What is First Year Initiatives?
First Year Initiatives is an integral part of Retention Services at Thomas College. Our mission is to help first year students make successful personal and academic transitions to the Thomas College community. We primarily do that through the first-year seminar Foundations for Success (FS110), the peer mentoring program, and the Common Read.
What is FS110?
Foundations for Success (FS110) is a one credit course that is designed to develop competencies in academic success strategies, campus and community responsibility, career preparation, and building connections with members of the Thomas College community.
Who Teaches FS110?
FS110 is taught by all levels of faculty and staff. This semester President Spann is even teaching section!
What are the Core Competencies?
Thomas College's four Core Competencies are guiding principals that guide all areas of our campus. These competencies are:
1. Communications
2. Leadership and Service
3. Critical Thinking, Analytical Reasoning, and Problem Solving
4. Community and Interpersonal Relations
What is the peer mentoring program?
The peer mentoring program matches first-year students with returning students. The peer mentors work alongside mentees and act as leaders, guides, and coaches helping the first-year students to acclimate to academic and social life at Thomas. They assist students with anything from clarification of faculty expectations to answering questions about the physical aspects of the campus.
Who are the peer mentors?
The peer mentors are matriculated Thomas College students who are excited about helping others become successful Thomas College students. They are students that have performed well in all aspects of their lives at Thomas.
How can I become a peer mentor?
The peer mentors apply in the spring for positions in the fall. Contact the Director of
First Year Initiatives, Sherry Pineau at 859-1209 or pineaus@thomas.edu for more information.
What is the Common Read?
The Common Read is a book that is given to the entering first-year class in the summer to be read by orientation in the fall. This year's choice is the award-winning Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin.
What is the Writing Project?
The Writing Project is a personal reflection piece that is based on the Common Read. Students are given a choice of two questions and then asked to respond in writing to one of them. For more specific information on this year's Writing Project see the Common Read page linked to the First Year Initiatives Homepage.
Who reads the Writing Project?
The Writing Project is first read by Dr. Tom Edwards, the Vice President for Academic Affairs. He then writes a response to each of the students and passes the writing along to the student's advisor and the
First Year Initiatives Director. The Writing Project is a wonderful way for us to get to know our incoming students.
Why do we do all that we do?
First Year Initiatives recognizes the difficulties that students today face transitioning to college. We want to help all of our entering students to become successful students who accomplish their academic degree goals.
How successful are we?
Currently, almost two-thirds of Thomas College students return for a second year at our institution and about half of our students graduate with a degree.
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