Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the purpose of the Freshman Year Experience?
A. The Freshman Year Experience (FYE) is a year-long program designed to maximize every student's potential to achieve academic success and to adjust responsibly to the individual and interpersonal challenges presented by collegiate life. The program is intended primarily for those students who have not decided on a college major.
Q. What are the advantages of participating in FYE?
A. FYE participants are assigned to learning communities of 25 students. The students in each learning community take at least three courses together. Since the courses are linked, students are afforded an intellectually rich interdisciplinary experience. Students in learning communities report greater personal involvement in a range of academic and social activities and greater perceived developmental gains over the course of the year than do students in regular curriculum classes. A major advantage is that your academic advisor is also your professor for your VSU 1101 course. As a result, students see their advisor at least twice a week. Advisors also serve as faculty mentors helping students decide on a major and professional career. In addition, peer mentors are assigned to each FYE learning community to help organize study groups and plan social activities.
Q. What classes will I take if I join FYE?
A. You will take VSU 1101, English 1101, and a social science course during our first semester of college. The social science course will be either U.S. History or Political Science which are both required no matter what your major is. The second semester, you will take a Perspectives course, English 1102, and the other social science course. These classes come together as a "package", and you cannot change the times or specific class listed. So to participate in the FYE learning community you must take all three courses listed---it's all or nothing. Your academic advisor will help you select additional courses during your first year of college. Click here to view the Fall 2009 learning community options: Learning Community Class Schedule
Q. What if I already have college credit for any of the courses that are linked together in the FYE program?
A. Just tell us or write on your application form which course(s) you have received credit for, and we will not register you for that class. We can recommend another course for you to take while in the FYE program. You may email Dr. Tillman ( cgtillma@valdosta.edu ) with specific questions.
Q. Is FYE open only to students who have not declared an academic major?
A. Yes, FYE is primarily designed for students who are "undecided" on a college major. Almost half of the students who come to VSU will change their academic major at least once during their undergraduate years. For many students, "undecided" is the best choice for the first year of college. During the freshman year, all students take core courses, so there are very few differences in academic course selection for "decided" and "undecided" majors. If you want to participate in the FYE program, you must have an undeclared major before you attend orientation. If you listed a major on your application form to VSU, you will be listed as that major. If you want to participate in the FYE program then list undecided as your major. If you have applied to VSU and listed a major and you want to participate in the FYE program, on your orientation form then list undecided as your major and email admissions ( admissions@valdosta.edu ) that you want to change your major. Major changes are made through the admissions office. Please take care of this early, so orientation will go smoothly for you. Click here to register for orientation http://www.valdosta.edu/studentaffairs/orientation/
Q. If I participate in FYE do I have to live in the assigned residence hall?
A. No, you can live in another residence hall and room with a student who is not participating in FYE. We recommend living in the same residence hall so we can create a living and learning community of students.
Q. If I participate in FYE do I have to apply for housing?
A. Yes. If you want to live on campus, you must apply to housing and residence life to sign-up for a room. To apply for housing at VSU, please click here: http://services.valdosta.edu/housing/contracts.aspx Please apply early because it is "first-come first-served."
Q. Can I participate in both the FYE program and the
LeaderQuest: Emerging Leader Program?
A. No, these are two separate programs. Click here for more information about the Emerging Leader Program: http://www.valdosta.edu/stulife/leadership/
Q. Are there any academic majors that have an FYE Program?
A. Yes, Political Science.
Q. How do I sign up for the FYE program?
A.
Printed applications will be mailed to every undecided student or you may complete the online application. The online application will be available in April. We assign learning communities when you complete these three items: we receive your FYE application form; you have registered for orientation, and you have been given an orientation date. It does not matter which orientation you sign-up to attend. When you complete your application, be sure to list three choices for the learning community. Students are assigned learning community preference on "first-come first-served" basis. So if your first choice is full and you do not put an additional choice, your application is put aside. You may not be able to join any community, so please list three choices. We honor your preferences if the learning community is not full.