2008 Woodie Awards
NMU students benefit from FYE program
Jeff Ryan
Issue date: 9/13/07 Section: News
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College can be a scary place, especially if you're new to the university setting, but because of a program at Northern, there is hope in getting better acquainted with college, classes and life-preparation.
NMU's First Year Experience (FYE) program is designed to help first-time freshmen learn how to make the transition from high school to college better, said Susan VerDuin, director of the First Year Experience program.
"It's the first time that students are away from their parents," VerDuin said, "We want to help them become more comfortable with college life." The program, started in 1995, has grown from 10 blocks to over 58 blocks during the fall semester and three blocks during the winter.
The program blocks are based on a range from 12-16 credits per semester. The classes a student will be enrolled in depends on which block he or she registers for. The classes can range from EN 111, to introductory science classes. However, UN 100, the freshman seminar class, is required in every block.
Students can enroll by contacting the Dean of Students Office. Blocks are chosen from a list available from the Dean's Office and also online at www.dos.nmu.edu. Once a student enrolls they do not have to register for classes because they are already guaranteed the classes in their block.
"Students that go through the program have a higher success rate over students that have not participated in the program," VerDuin said.
The rate is determined by calculating the GPA and retention rate of participating students after their fifth and sixth semesters.
Students that complete the program have an 11.3 percent higher retention rate over students that have opted not to enroll in it, VerDuin said.
Currently, two thirds of freshmen are enrolled in this program every year at NMU, and FYE is mandatory for students entering Northern on either freshman probation or college transition.
Students who do not meet either the ACT or GPA requirements for admission are allowed to enter Northern on transition status, while students that meet only one of those requirements are allowed to enter on a probation status.
NMU's First Year Experience (FYE) program is designed to help first-time freshmen learn how to make the transition from high school to college better, said Susan VerDuin, director of the First Year Experience program.
"It's the first time that students are away from their parents," VerDuin said, "We want to help them become more comfortable with college life." The program, started in 1995, has grown from 10 blocks to over 58 blocks during the fall semester and three blocks during the winter.
The program blocks are based on a range from 12-16 credits per semester. The classes a student will be enrolled in depends on which block he or she registers for. The classes can range from EN 111, to introductory science classes. However, UN 100, the freshman seminar class, is required in every block.
Students can enroll by contacting the Dean of Students Office. Blocks are chosen from a list available from the Dean's Office and also online at www.dos.nmu.edu. Once a student enrolls they do not have to register for classes because they are already guaranteed the classes in their block.
"Students that go through the program have a higher success rate over students that have not participated in the program," VerDuin said.
The rate is determined by calculating the GPA and retention rate of participating students after their fifth and sixth semesters.
Students that complete the program have an 11.3 percent higher retention rate over students that have opted not to enroll in it, VerDuin said.
Currently, two thirds of freshmen are enrolled in this program every year at NMU, and FYE is mandatory for students entering Northern on either freshman probation or college transition.
Students who do not meet either the ACT or GPA requirements for admission are allowed to enter Northern on transition status, while students that meet only one of those requirements are allowed to enter on a probation status.
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