Reminder: Invitation to an open forum on enhancing the first-year experience

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Established in June of this year, the First-Year Experience Working Group was created to provide advice and guidance on strategies and programing to support new student transition into the University.

The First-Year Experience Working Group is currently seeking input from the York University community about how to increase retention, enhance the student experience and foster the overall academic success of first-year students at York University.

An open forum on the first-year experience has been set for Nov. 25, from 3:45 to 4:45pm at 519 Kaneff Tower, Keele campus. Join the discussion and contribute your ideas on how to enhance the first-year experience at York University. RSVP by filling out the First-Year Experience Forum form. If you are unable to join us for the open forum, you can provide feedback online through the form.

The First Year Experience Discussion Paper is a work in progress and will serve as a tool for consultation with faculty, staff and students to encourage informed discussion about strategies to enhance the first-year experience at York University. There are many examples of first-year experience programing already underway at York. There are also many important opportunities that the University must advance if it is going to  provide the kind of first-year experience that maximizes students’ opportunity for learning and growth. Critically, this will enhance York’s capacity to attract and retain the best students as a post-secondary destination of choice. Final recommendations will be presented to the provost in December.

The abundant literature on the first-year experience describes a continuum of programing, curriculum, pedagogy, policies and processes all aimed at fostering and enhancing student success. The potential impact of a comprehensive, coordinated and high-quality first-year experience  framework for York University is significant. The objectives are to increase retention from year one to year two by one per cent before November 2015 and to have a positive impact on student performance, persistence rates and the assessed quality of the student experience. All of these values and goals are embedded in the University Academic Plan (UAP) and White Paper.

If you would like to receive the discussion paper in another format, contact Rheza Evangelista at rhezae@yorku.ca.