The goal of the First Year (FY) course is to introduce students to the academic culture and promote higher-order skills that will aid them in their scholarly endeavors. Particularly important are those values of academic learning found in a liberal arts education: to develop responsible individuals who combine career competency with cultural awareness and intellectual curiosity; to give a foundation for clear thinking and expression; to read intelligently in fields with which an educated person ought to be acquainted. Overall, the FY course fosters in the student a commitment and responsibility to the UNK community, an energetic, thoughtful approach to the challenges of contemporary life, and an awareness of their place in the global society.
As a result of the First Year Program experience, students will:
- Maintain a GPA greater than a comparable group of non-participants.
- Have retention rates higher than a comparable group of non-participants.
- Demonstrate college writing skills in essays.
- Demonstrate knowledge of academic etiquette and civil discourse in discussion, debate, and argumentation in University forums
- Utilize resources available in the library in a project that exposes them to general library information; searching and acquisition process; research methodologies.
- Engage in critical thinking about issues and ideas they encounter during this course.