First-Year Experience

We will provide a foundation for new students from all backgrounds to become full participants in the mission of the college. Through the first-year experience, students will gain an understanding of the expectations of college in general and Austin College specifically.

• Adjustment from high school to college
• Orientation to the Compass Curriculum
• The expectations and advantages of a liberal arts undergraduate education
• The importance of academic integrity & ethical behavior
• Approaching new experiences with an open mind

Though many elements of college life are common across institutions, some require direct orientation, including Abell Library, the Academic Skills Center, the Scarbrough Center for Writing, and Webhopper (course registration).  First-year seminar will introduce you to these resources and make sure that you can make the most of them.

From notetaking to reading, academic writing to studying for exams, there is a set of academic skills that you will need to be successful in your college work. Regardless of the topic, First-year Seminar courses are designed to develop and hone those skills.

At Austin College the learning and growth you experience in the classroom, lab, and beyond is supported by your experiences living on campus.  Our residential communities are your home away from home for the majority of your time at Austin College. Fully trained residential life staff are here to help you as you experience sharing space and ideas, making and enforcing rules, and taking care of yourself and others.

Austin College views students as whole people, and as such recognizes the need for students to attend to your mental and physical wellness in multiple ways. First-year students will receive information on the needs of, and the risks faced by, a college population (sleep! go to class! drink water!). You will also be introduced to the resources and tools we have in place to help you stay healthy and well.

Though we certainly don’t expect you to have it all figured out from the start, in the first year you should begin considering the path you plan to take through your time at Austin College.  Your faculty mentor will help guide you through:

• The exploration and discovery that is at the heart of the liberal arts experience
• Thinking concretely about the academic program, including course selection, major(s) and minor(s)
• Considering the experiences Austin College is uniquely able to provide in support of undergraduate education, including internships, study abroad, research opportunities, prestigious scholarships, and similar
• A framework for managing uncertainty or a change of direction
• An understanding of how to leverage your liberal arts education into a compelling case for post-graduate employment

Threaded throughout all of these elements is a focus on helping first-year students develop habits of mind that characterize a strong and meaningful liberal arts education.  These include (in no particular order):

• Curiosity
• Openness
• Strategies for managing and responding to feedback
• Coping with failure and discomfort
• Self-advocacy
• Reflection
• Persistence & resilience
• Empathy & compassion
• Self-development & self-improvement

Perhaps most importantly, you should feel that you belong to the Austin College community and are a vibrant and contributing member of that community. You should feel ownership over your college experience, and the components of the first-year experience will help to embrace your individuality and find your place as part of ’RooNation.