Welcome Home Course Themes and Descriptions 2006-2007 Program Changes Program Core Values FYE Classes Info

FYE Program Core Values

The First Year Experience Class has eight core values:

Each class section in the course outline features a wheel representing the eight core values of the program. The core values represented in that section will be highlighted to assist the instructors in understanding not only the focus of the section, but also help direct discussion through the exploration of topics and issues geared to facilitate the maximum impact.



Program Core Values are defined as:

  1. Celebration - The act of recognizing with ceremonies of respect, festivity, and rejoicing. To create opportunities for connection through praise and recognition of accomplishments or the journey the group has taken.
  2. Collaboration - The act of working together in a joint intellectual effort. Any of the reciprocal actions or effects, that can occur in a diverse community.
  3. Community building - An ongoing process where members of a community share skills, talents, knowledge and experiences that strengthen or develop themselves and the community. Continuous, self-renewing efforts by participants engaged in collective action aimed at problem solving and enrichment that results in improved lives and greater equity and produces new or strengthened institutions, organizations, relationships, and new standards and expectations for life in community.
  4. Human dignity - The quality of being worthy of esteem or respect; treating people as important and valued conveying the idea of absolute and inherent worth. It is the belief that rational human beings have an intrinsic and absolute value and that value should be respected and protected.
  5. Integrity - Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code. It is the state of being unimpaired; soundness; the quality or condition of being whole or undivided; completeness.
  6. Inclusion - The act of including or the state of being included. It is the opportunity to create a bond between people or things. Making parts whole. Creating an environment where all individuals feel like they are equally connected to the group.
  7. Risk taking - The willingness to make mistakes, advocate unconventional or unpopular positions, or tackle extremely challenging problems without obvious solutions, such that oneีs personal growth, integrity, or accomplishments are enhanced.
  8. Shared Vision - Capturing, communicating, and reconciling individual goals and methods with a collective understanding and focus. It is the opportunity to inspire collective direction of a group around common goals and helping them develop strategies toward achieving those goals.

Kolb's Experiential Learning Model

The First Year Experience Class layout and outline is based on Kolb's Experiential Learning Model. As an instructor for the program you will be processing both large group (full-class) and small group activities as well as discussing many new concepts, issues and trends throughout the twelve week program. All processing questions are included within each of the week outlines in this manual.

The processing is based on Kolb's basic experiential learning model:

  1. Students should have a concrete and shared experience through activities and discussions.
  2. The activity/discussions are followed by reflective observation; this is where we ask students to describe and identify what happened during the class/event.
  3. Participants critically analyze what happened/was discussed and conceptualize thoughts on how and why.
  4. Processing is finalized by encouraging and prompting active experimentation of these new concepts, theories, thoughts, and resources related to their own individual campus success and how these new concepts, theories, thoughts and resources relate to the campus community at large.

FYE Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Skill Development - Students will develop and enhance skills such as: writing, computer skills, studying, money management, time management, and interviewing/resume writing.
  2. Interpersonal Growth - Students will discuss complex issues and understand more about themselves through identity development, conflict management, stress management, self-discovery, and personality/style exploration.
  3. Community Development/Mentoring - Students will meaningfully connect to ULV programs and services, connect to other ULV students, faculty and staff, and to the ULV community-at-large. Students will explore the meaning of community and its importance in their success at the University of La Verne.
  4. Academic Exploration - Students will understand learning styles and their role in academic success; further explore majors and minor interests at the University of La Verne; develop career and/or vocational skills; be better prepared through exploration of graduate school/internship opportunities, research interests/topics, academic advising, and understand university academic policies and procedures.
  5. Social Issues Exploration - Students will explore complex critical issues and learn to think reflectively about multicultural/gender/sexuality awareness and sensitivity, alcohol awareness, health/fitness, sexual assault/rape, and current student trends/issues. Students will develop critical thinking skills through exploration of topics both in class and in readings.
  6. Student Engagement/Involvement - Students will learn about and understand the importance of student engagement through clubs and organizations, student government, Residence Hall Association, CAB, Greek Life, Leadership programs, Community Service, academic focused efforts (Theater, music, Campus Times, etc.).

FYE Instructor Outcomes

  1. Through FYE, build a positive learning community by collaborating with University academic and non-academic departments, peer mentors and student participants.
  2. Increase understanding of the issues faced by first year students as they make a transition to college, as well as access to tools to assist students in this transition.
  3. Further develop teaching skills through instructor training workshops/training and assistance/resources from the Office of Student Life.
  4. Increase access to information regarding what is available to students on campus.

FYE Landis Leadership Scholar Outcomes

  1. Through FYE, build a positive learning community by collaborating with University academic and non-academic departments, FYE Instructors and student participants.
  2. Increase leadership skills such as team building and problem solving, through planning meaningful engagement programs for student participants and through student participant mentoring.
  3. Develop interpersonal interaction skills through facilitating small group discussions and large group presentations; identifying solutions to student issues; and taking initiative with students, staff, and faculty.
  4. Learning to a further extent the value of setting and achieving academic goals, the benefits of teamwork in an academic setting, and the importance of campus involvement in being a successful student.
  5. Improving interview skills such as developing a portfolio and learning interview etiquette through the peer mentor selection process.