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Show " """ Wi. TZ7J Mil;- K , 'WfefM6!' First Year Experience aids students in all years - . .. -..I tl..-llj . ., vjiiii .j . . 'I mil.. - i .'V v -V- - -v- - ,J r;! ,y , .r i.r- V ;;:.(....-: ---r--. .. ;,. s Jennifer Grandi lectures to her First Year Experience summer class, which is extremely helpful to those students who are new to Weber State University. The class assists students with all the facilities and options available to them while attending WSU. By Maria Villasenor editor in chief The Signpost When Dawn lames recently returned to Weber State University for her degree after an 18-year hiatus, she discovered a course that helped her ease back into school. "I took it mainly because last semester was such a struggle for me, basically in study skills and test taking and this class has made a huge difference," said the health care services junior, who took the First Year Experience course in the summer. The FYE program offers an introductory course to the university listed under EDUC 1105 available to all students. The class teaches study skills, information about campus resources, available majors and the peer mentors who also assist each class. Before taking the FYE course, James wasn't aware of the services available at the student health center. She said the FYE course Weber State University is ccrrrrdtted to providing an envirofjiient free from harassment and other forms of disrrnation based on race, color, ethnic background, national origin, religion, creed, age, lack of American citizenship, disability, status of veteran of the Vietnam era, sexual orientation or preference, or gender, including sexual gender harassment . Such an environment is a necessary part of a healthy learning and working atmosphere because such disarimination undermines the sense of human dignity and belonging. Discrirninatian and harassment are prohibited by the constitutions, statutes, precedents and regulations of the United States and Utah. It is the policy of the University to vigorously enforce these laws among its students, employees and visitors. Both informal and formal grievance procedures are available to enforce this policy. Persons who participate in this grievance procedure are protected against retaliation for doing so. Individuals who believe any of these rights have been violated should contact the office of Affirmative ActionEqual Opportunity, Miller Administratiaa Building, Roan 101, Weber State University, Ogden, Utah 84408-1022 Telephone (801) 626-6239 Campus Police (801) 626-6460 Can handle emergency situations at any time of day or night. u. -V" " '" ' .5,. 1 - o also showed her which general education classes are best suited for her and actually fill the requirements for her major. James also discovered how to use the Stewart Library and the interlibrary loan program so she could request books from other libraries and have them delivered to the WSU-Davis Campus, which is a bit closer to her home. "For me, the biggest impact it had was definitely study habits and notetaking," James said. In her first semester at WSU, Cortney Dutton-Jones now a junior working toward a bachelor's of integrated studies in English, communication and art took the FYE course and credits it with her organization and time management skills. Dutton-Jones, who still uses a lot of what she learned in the class, also found out about several campus resources early on at WSU, rather than during her junior or senior year. After taking the FYE course, a professor recommended Dutton-Jones become a mentor in the program, and this fall will be her seventh semester mentoring. "1 just love to see my students grow," she said. Some students come in shy and timid, unsure of being in college or there just because their parents made them go, Dutton-Jones said. "And by the end of the semester they're confident, they know what they're doing, they know how to get around campus, who to talk to and they know that if they can't find the answer, they can come to me," she said. "I can help them." Students in the program can take the introductory course by itself or they can match it in a cluster with other classes. Anne-Marie Singleton, FYE director, said that in the fall, one math class clustered with the intro course will be filled half with FYE students and the rest will be other students. That way, FYE students will already know other classmates, be able to meet others and have an easier time forming study groups. Singleton said the idea of the program is to help students move from whatever stage they may be at into becoming comfortable at WSU. The program serves as support for all students, and can be extra beneficial for students having a harder time with school. "So the retention rate is higher and that's encouraging because even though they come in at somewhat of a disadvantage, still they stay around longer and they get their degrees," Singleton said of students with low ACT scores. James said the FYE classes should be required for everyone; more students would be successful. She told a friend whose children start at WSU next year that they need to take the course. "It'll just make such a big difference," James said. "If I'd have had this class 20 years ago, I think college life would have been a lot different for me. I may have finished right away rather than stopping." You can reach reporter Maria Villasenor by calling 626-7614. Film & digital cameras, darkroom supplies, filters, student discounts. We'll Bent Any Local Competitor's Prices. tlLFOffsJeajoIfU 621-7666 49 Years of Service WiH.l4li1 |