The Medgar Evers College (MEC) Freshman Year Program is designed to help students develop the skillset and discipline to transition from high school to college and complete their degrees on time. The goal is to support our students in having a Freshman year that integrates and incorporates both academic and non-academic programming while providing a socially inclusive environment that supports the emotional and educational needs of our students.
Key Benefits:
- Improve academic performance
- Build skills essential for academic success
- Assist students on how to utilize on-campus resources
- Foster student-faculty relationships
- Develop critical thinking skills
- Understanding learning style and taking necessary
What is Freshman Seminar?
Freshman Seminar is designed to ease student transition from high school to college life that creates a space for students to discuss and reflect on their academic goals. The discussion-oriented classes are taught by faculty members, small in size to give each student the opportunity to develop academic skills in a collaborative environment.
During the first semester, all first-year students are expected and encouraged to take FS-101 and 15 credits that meet the student’s general education requirements to graduate on time.
Students are introduced to the following modules:
- Orientation to learn about MEC’s history, mission, vision, students’ rights, and responsibilities
- Medgar Wiley Evers and the importance of civic engagement
- Building relationships with faculty and peers
- Learn how to manage college and life and create efficient schedules for success
- Learn effective study skills that consist of note-taking, outlining, test-taking
- Technological proficiency in an academic environment using College email account software, Blackboard, CUNYfirst, Schedule Builder, EAB Navigate, e-portfolio, and library research
- Basic financial literacy
- Wellness for the mind and body, overcoming test anxiety, diet, and physical activity
- Develop interests and skills through targeted activities and career assessments
- Develop a personal brand reflected in an e-portfolio
- Develop compelling biography, cover letter, resume, and elevator pitch
- Learn interviewing techniques and communication strategies
- Gain an understanding of how organizations operate, from structure to job description and evaluation
- Learn how to compare and contrast themselves with successful individuals within their career fields to see what worked and what didn’t
- Learn practical skills to make informed financial and life decisions upon graduation
- Learn about post-graduate and professional opportunities affiliated with their majors and career choices.
This course is a one-credit course, and meets for one hour and fifteen minutes, once a week.