The intentional weaving together of hands-on involvement, experiential learning, and mentorship within the context of a rigorous academic life is the hallmark of our First-Year Experience. FYE at K helps students achieve academic success, make choices that lead to balanced lives, and learn to relate to people and cultures different than their own. The program fosters intercultural understanding, appropriate to an internationally focused college.

Kalamazoo College was named one of 13 “Institutions of Excellence in the First College Year” by the National Policy Center on the First Year of College and is featured in a new book, Achieving and Sustaining Institutional Excellence for the First Year of College. And for three consecutive years U.S. News & World Report recognized Kalamazoo College’s FYE as a “program that really works.” Dr. Zaide Pixley, director of the program, was named an Outstanding First-Year Advocate by the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition in 2006.

Kalamazoo’s SUMMER COMMON READING joins new students, faculty, and staff in a conversation about a novel they have read during the summer. The program began in 1999 with Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal Dreams. In all subsequent years, the author of the chosen novel has visited campus during orientation to augment discussion of the work. These distinguished artists are Richard Ford, Independence Day; Chang-rae Lee, A Gesture Life; Ha Jin, Waiting; Ann Patchett, Bel Canto; Aleksandar Hemon, Nowhere Man; Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Purple Hibiscus. Jonathan Safran Foer’s novel Everything Is Illuminated. Edward P. Jones, The Known World. 2008's Summer Common Reading book was The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz. This year's book is Telex from Cuba by Rachel Kushner.

A gathering of the fellowship in learning that is Kalamazoo College, ORIENTATION, which begins Wednesday, September 16, 2009, features intensive faculty, staff, student-mentor, and new student involvement. Students participate in Convocation, a formal welcoming ceremony. They meet the Summer Common Reading author, begin their First-Year Seminars, discuss course selections with their advisors, explore academic and co-curricular interests at information sessions and fairs, participate in community service projects, and make new friends.

Inaugurated in 1990, FIRST-YEAR SEMINARS involve faculty from many different departments, who develop special topics courses that introduce students to the critical thinking and writing skills required in college. Seminars help new students find and develop a voice through writing, speaking, analytical reading, discussion, and critical thinking. Seminars are small and operate through an exploratory discussion format. They begin during orientation and are the only class taken by all "K" students. Students write frequent, short papers, with much opportunity for revisions. Seminars include projects that foster intercultural understanding and hone information literacy.

FIRST-YEAR FORUMS are special programs (dramatic presentations, interactive learning sessions, and structured conversations with faculty, other students, and guest on campus) that focus on the three goals of the FYE program and help first years continue their academic and personal growth.

Each student has an ACADEMIC ADVISOR whose business is to know what is happening with each of his or her advisees. Advisors talk with their advisees about their goals and intellectual growth. They help advisees ask and answer questions, select courses, understand the curriculum and degree requirements, and connect with college resources.

PEER LEADERS, carefully selected student-mentors, share their knowledge and experiences to help students achieve greater academic and personal success. Each Seminar is assigned a Peer Leader, as are transfers and visiting international students.

For more information, contact:
Dr. Zaide Pixley, Dean of the First Year & Advising
(269) 337-5755; pixley@kzoo.edu,
and visit our web sites: http://www.kzoo.edu/advising and http://www.kzoo.edu/fye