Catherine McGrath

Luna Plaza, a freshman psychology major at UM, is homesick. In the first weeks of college, she finds it difficult to prioritize mental health while adjusting to a new lifestyle.

When students arrive as freshmen, they are tasked with living away from home and making new friends. It can be difficult to ask for help in a new place. However, the university’s new course, First Year Directions, was developed to break the ice between our campus and the freshmen class.

Students have been required to take an online course in past years, UMX 100, which “…creates opportunities for students to learn skills integral to developing connections with students, staff, administrators, and faculty,” according to the UM Bulletin. However, it is questionable how students can learn to develop connections sitting in front of a computer. Making connections became more difficult during the Coronavirus pandemic, which forced students to raise their hands digitally and work on group projects in breakout rooms. FYD 101 is a new in-person course that expands on information taught in UMX 100.

Marie Boursiquot White, a classroom systems and technology specialist and instructor of this course said that the course’s purpose is for students to build rapport with a faculty member that they can feel comfortable with.

The ‘Cane Success Center developed this course to help students adjust to college life, according to Heather Stevens, associate director of Divisional Initiatives and Student Advocacy and another one of the course’s instructors.

“Part of why they went back to this model of having the classes was for students to meet each other, learn about different resources on campus, and get exposure to different offices,” she said.

The class doesn’t involve testing or essay writing, although students are expected to participate in other ways. Plaza said the overall homework load is light.

“Yeah, but not really,” she stated.
She said the work involves taking surveys and checking out recommended resources. “It isn’t anything too bad,” she said.
The course also involves developing a four-year plan and, “figuring out if you actually

like your major,” according to Stevens.
White also assigns a four-year plan. She said it helps students identify which credits they

need to take before graduation, relieving stress.
Throughout the semester, White and Stevens ask their students to engage with the

campus community whether it be going to the Herbert Wellness Center to work out or to the Camner Center for tutoring. “The committee who came up with this curriculum wanted to make sure that we weren’t doing a lot of lecturing and that there was a lot of hands-on learning,” Stevens said.

The class is held once a week. Class sizes range from around four students to upwards of twenty, according to White. Students are placed in classes with students of similar majors. Smaller groups of like-minded students will help them connect and engage each other, White said.

“The reality of it is, you know these are their peers, people talk with their peers,” she said. “But when they get in front of an instructor it’s quiet.” Often freshmen are reluctant to

speak with their professors or other faculty members but White can facilitate meaningful interactions during class time. “Re-engaging is key,” she said. “Silence is not the answer.”

Before the semester started, Plaza received numerous emails and text messages inviting her to enroll in FYD 101. These notifications piqued Plaza’s interest.

“I wanna make sure that I know the resources on campus. It’s pretty difficult for me to navigate that,” she said. The course is not mandatory and sometimes does not offer credit. Despite this, Plaza enrolled.

The freshman said that she has already made two close friends in the small class. Most students are also psychology majors making it easy to find things in common, she said. In such a small setting the professor tries to get to know the students.

“I really appreciate that,” Plaza said.

Class time is structured to be interactive and discussion based. Students are encouraged to try different studying methods and share their ideas with other students.

“There are good reminders about how to stay on top of the work I have and just also I always need a reminder to take care of my mental health,” she said. To share resources on health and wellness, Plaza’s professor invited a guest speaker from student health services.

Another aspect of this course that helps students assimilate into college culture is the teaching assistant. Madeline Joyce, a senior majoring in political science and international relations, is the teaching assistant for Jessica Stinnett’s FYD 101 class on Wednesdays.

“I think I offer recent experience,” Joyce said. “I was recently a freshman and I feel like the experience is fresh in my memory of what freshman year was like and the struggles and questions I had.”

The teaching assistant can offer advice to students that most professors probably shouldn’t regarding tailgates, partying and other topics relating to life at the U.

During a recent week, Joyce had the opportunity to give a presentation on time management.

“I showed major differences between a high school block schedule and the freedom and space you have in college,” she explained.

The students were then asked to fill out a weekly time log where they write down everything they do for a week.

“They break it down to see how much time they spent on each activity,” she said. “Then, they fill out a chart that organizes time by how many hours they did an activity, how many hours they should and how many they will.”

This allows students to better understand how they should spend their valuable time.

First Year Directions was created because there was a need, White said. The course is meant to be a comfortable, intimate setting to ask questions.

“I think that it is good to be aware of what the campus has to cover and that if you are struggling with something you have a class to ask those questions,” Plaza said.