Program Outcomes

first year studies is a top-ranked program at college of charleston
The First Year Experience program at the College of Charleston integrates first-year students into the academic and cultural community of the College. It is an academic program in which faculty and peer facilitators introduce students to:

  • interdisciplinary thinking.
  • academic integrity.
  • the philosophy of the liberal arts and sciences education.
  • the skills to be successful in their academic careers.

Throughout the course, students will be exposed to campus resources, information literacy and integrative learning.

By the completion of the First Year Exeperience, students will be able to identify and use appropriate academic resources and student support services. Students will be familiar with:

  • Addlestone Library.
  • information technology.
  • the Center for Student Learning.
  • the Career Center.
  • other appropriate academic resources, student support services and cultural resources.

In addition to learning about the library and its many services, students will develop information literacy. By the end of their FYE course, students will be able to:

  • use appropriate tools and search strategies to identify particular types of information specific to the discipline.
  • evaluate the relevance, quality and appropriateness of different sources of information.
  • recognize and classify information within a bibliographic citation.
  • access and use information ethically and legally.

Each course will teach students integrative learning. Faculty will use writing, speech or media in innovative ways. Students will be able to:

  • use critical thinking skills and problem-solving techniques in disciplinary contexts.
  • make connections across disciplines and/or relevant experiences.

10-Year Progress Report

The College of Charleston’s First Year Experience Program began in 2007 as our Quality Enhancement Project. It has grown into a fully implemented graduation requirement for all incoming first-year students. Over the past 10 years, the FYE program has evolved and developed in new and innovative ways.

We have incorporated peer mentoring into all of our courses. We are a center of faculty development on campus. We have developed a team that has moved beyond institutional assessment to develop a research-based approach to understanding our first-year student experience.

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