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Common Experience Programs for First Year Students
The College has identified a number of programs that are designed to ease transition to college while exposing new students to a variety of academic disciplines and practices. They allow students to explore the John Jay academic community and acquire skills that lead to academic excellence in the first year and beyond.
During the registration session, you can choose from these programs. Please take a moment to review your options below:
FYE Learning Communities (offered in Fall only)
FYE Learning Communities for EAP Students (for students whose first language is other than English only)
Interdisciplinary Studies Program
First Year Seminars in Anthropology 101, Ethnic Studies 125 and Speech 113
The Fall 09 First Year Seminars (FYS) are high interest introductory courses in Political Science 101, Anthropology 101, Ethnic Studies 125 and Speech 113, all of which satisfy General Education requirements. The first year seminars are designed to support the success of entering first year students by allowing them to work closely with faculty and hone their reading, writing and oral communication and critical thinking skills. The courses introduce students to the principles, theories, practices and research methods of the respective disciplines preparing them for higher level study in the college. In addition, the FYS structure allows students to explore college policies and the community, discover college resources and special programs, and attain critical study skills such as note-taking or time management.
First Year Seminar in Counseling 112
CSL 112 is a three-credit course that explores the challenges that entering freshmen encounter in their first year. These challenges are: academic, personal-emotional and social. Under academic challenges you will explore issues like procrastination and motivation; how students learn best and how to go about getting the most out of your courses by learning a number of note-taking, test-taking strategies and improving your reading and listening skills.
Under personal-emotional challenges you will have the opportunity to explore your values and set obtainable goals as a college student.
Social challenges include the discussion of family relationships, relationships with friends and romantic partners. Did you know that most relationship breakups take place around the sixth week of classes? The discussion will also include how to make new friends at John Jay and feel connected to the college. Did you know that research indicates that the number one predictor of college success is how connected a student feels to their academic institution?
The way we like to think about this course is as a life vest. Imagine that you are in the middle of the ocean and you know how to swim, but someone on a ship comes along and throws you a life vest. Will you take it? Of course you will because you know that it will increase your chances of survival. CSL 112 will increase your chances of success as a college student.
Contact Person
Maat Lewis-Cole
Counseling, 3132N
malewis@jjay.cuny.edu
(212) 237-8141
SEEK Freshman Colloquium – FRC 101 (for SEEK students only)
SEEK Program
The SEEK (Search for Education, Elevation, and Knowledge) Program is open to entering students who need academic and financial support to successfully compete in college. The SEEK support services in counseling, tutoring, and instruction, and the financial aid allow its students to take advantage of and enjoy the rich possibilities that college offers. The objective of the SEEK Program is to enable its students to move as quickly as possible to degree completion, and to participate in extra-curricular activities such as internships. A freshman orientation course gives entering students a general introduction to college and focuses on specific concerns such as: career goals, improvement of study skills, interpersonal communication skills, and management of time and money.
Contact Person
Dr. Schevaletta Alford
SEEK, 3101N
salford@jjay.cuny.edu
(212) 237-8171
Freshman Honors Colloquium – Hon 191, section 450 (for Honors students only)
Honors Program
The Honors Program is an innovative approach to the development of research practitioners at the onset of the student’s college career. Each fall semester eligible entering freshmen are selected for the program. The concept of “justice” is the foundational theme of the program. A core aspect of the interdisciplinary honors curriculum is the opportunity for students to examine various topics dealing with crime, social justice and societal context for justice. Distinguished Faculty of the College teach the Honors Program classes in a seminar style with doctoral students serving as teaching assistants, role models and student mentors to the freshman scholars. The objective of the Program is to give the scholars an opportunity to develop over the course of their college experience original research and to present their findings at national conferences. Students in the Honors Program are awarded book stipends each semester as well as opportunities to attend free cultural events.
Contact Person
Litna McNickle
Honors, Awards and Special Opportunities, 3300N
lmcnickle@jjay.cuny.edu
(212) 237-8553
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