Professor Tom McBride, the Program's co-founder, further clarifies the purposes of the FYI program with three points. First, the relationship between students and their FYI professors is a friendly, mentoring interaction which fosters extensive intellectual dialogue. The goal is for faculty and students to talk about ideas openly, comfortably--and frequently. Second, with only minor exceptions, first-year students have the campus to themselves during the first week of the program. This solidarity produces academic and social ownership. It builds confidence and trust, and a certain at-homeness, which is essential to future academic progress. Last, the FYI program is built in good part on Beloit's long tradition of learning-by-experience. The experiential learning developed through field trips and community service projects builds a wider awareness of the communities--both on the Beloit campus and beyond.

New Student Days, held the week before classes formally begin, introduces new students to the College and to one another. The program links you from the day you arrive on campus to an experienced professor and to a group of peers. Over the next two years, this professor serves as your academic advisor, seminar leader, mentor, and friend as you move towards declaring a major during your sophomore year. Your seminar leader/advisor also assists as you decide how you want to take advantage of your college activities-such as extra-curricular activities, study abroad, and internships across the nation. It is during New Student Days that you begin your FYI Seminar.

Each Seminar seeks to begin from the very first day to attack an issue, analyze it, discuss it, and then allow you to express your observations and conclusions about it. The seminar leaders are dedicated to fostering in the seminar participants the same "love of learning" that has caused them to become teachers and scholars.
First-Year Initiatives Seminar is one of your four fall semester courses. The FYI Seminar begins during New Student Days and continues throughout the fall semester. In addition to Seminar meetings, you will attend three or four FYI common events including a special "FYI Night" at a theatre production during the fall semester.
Spring Semester is focused much more on the relationship between you and your advisor than on the entire group. You will begin to think about your Comprehensive Academic Plan in order to maximize your opportunities and your time at Beloit College and to lay the foundation near the end of the term. Along with Venture Grants, all of this brings a sense of closure to the year-long program and also sets the stage for a successful sophomore year.

Venture Grants are competitive awards made to first-year students so that over the summer and as sophomores they may continue a project begun during their first year or initiate a new one. Seminar leaders and administrative staff facilitate the preparation of Venture Grant proposals.

The current co-directors of the FYI program are Audra Cook, Ann Davies and Chuck Lewis. Please contact them if you have questions regarding the FYI experience.

Audra Cooke, Director of Student Activities/Assistant Dean of Students: cookea@beloit.edu

Ann Davies, Associate Professor of Political Science: daviesa@beloit.ed

Chuck Lewis Director of the Writing Program/Associate Professor of English: lewisc@beloit.edu