2003 Alumni News

Freshman Cohort Program Makes Learning Friendlier

The first semester on campus can be overwelming for new freshmen. The Institute of Technology has addressed this for several years by forming teams of about 100 students with designated faculty and peer advisors. John Nieber has been a faculty advisor for freshmen teams for several years. A number of our junior and senior BAE students have served as peer advisors.

This fall we have formed student learning communities for pre-BAE students who enter through the College of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences. All students take the BAE orientation course, plus we have arranged for students to take the same sections of math, biology, chemistry, and composition where appropriate. Not all students are ready to take the same math or chemistry course, but those who are might have as many as five classes together. This helps our students become acquainted and have someone to study with.

So far it seems to be working well. Even though we have no formal process for students to take the same sections spring semester of their freshman year, many of the students are trying to arrange that to continue in their student learning community. After one semester, most students have become “seasoned veterans” who “know the ropes.” They have also developed new friends and potential study partners. However, we think the first semester student learning communities help students succeed in that important first semester