The First Year Student Enrichment Program (FYSEP) empowers first generation students in their first year at Dartmouth College to thrive academically and in the greater college community. Through a seven day orientation program and year long peer mentoring, FYSEP students participate in college level classes, workshops, activities, and seminars designed to simulate college life and prepare participants to handle some of the challenges they may face during the course of their first year. This workshop will explore successes and challenges of the program’s first two years, focusing on the powerful collaborative partnerships that have been formed among Dartmouth faculty, student support staff, college administration and undergraduates themselves.

1. Presentation to the National Partnerships for Educational Access Conference – Chicago, Illinois
From Access to Success:
The First Year Student Enrichment Program
Presented by: Jay Davis, Dartmouth College
April 19, 2012

2. AGENDA
1. Overview of FYSEP Program Structure
- Mission and Objectives
- History
- Current Structure
2. Collaboration Lessons:
- Undergraduates
- Faculty and Staff
- Campus Programs
- Other Institutions
3. Questions and Discussion

3. Mission & Objectives
Mission Statement:
The First Year Student Enrichment Program empowers first-generation students
at Dartmouth College to thrive academically and in the greater college
community.
Learning Objectives for Students:
• To thrive in college-level classes
• To use campus resources to support them in their non-academic lives
• To make the most of the unique network of support that the FYSEP students and
undergraduate mentors provide
• To better understand their own inner-strengths, affinities, and areas for growth

4. History
• Began in 2009 as a student-initiated and student-led
program
o Received limited financial support from the college
o Focused on building a network and 1:1 mentoring relationships
• Became Administratively Supported Program in 2010
o 5-day pre-orientation program targeted at first generation students
o Year long components including: academic workshops, social
activities and mentoring relationships
• Further Changes in 2011-2012
o 7-day pre-Orientation program
o Incorporating of first year and sophomore experience

5. Program Structure
2011-2012 Programming
Orientation Week:
Academics: “Authentic” classes, with pre/debrief
College Resources: Workshops with variety of college offices and staff
Personal Growth: Scaffolded workshops focused on greater self-awareness
Academic Year:
Social Events (Dinners, “Inside Scoop” Event)
Ongoing Workshops (eg Major Selection, Off-term Planning, Financial Literacy)
Enrichment activities (eg, Learn to Ski, Cooking, Canoeing)

6. Collaboration
Among Undergraduates
• 115 students in the pre-orientation program
• 34 first-year FYSEP students
• 34 peer mentors (juniors and seniors)
• 8 Pre-orientation facilitators (FYSEP sophomores)
• 24 first-year members of the Native Leadership Institute attend class
• 15 first-year athletes attend class
• 95 students in the year-long program
• 34 first-year FYSEP students
• 34 peer mentors (juniors and seniors)
• 27 sophomore FYSEP students

7. Collaboration
With Faculty and Staff
• Professors from Government, Economics, English, Psychology, Mathematics, Chemistry,
Biology, and Native American Studies
- Authentic preparation for college academics
- Overlap with Year-Long Faculty Advisors
- Interdepartmental Communication
- Personal Enrichment for Faculty Members
- Pedagogy: Balancing Aspiration and Likely Reality
- Compensation and Tenure-Track/Non-Tenure Track
• Administrators from Advising Deans, Library, Academic Skills Center, Office of Pluralism
and Leadership, Career Services, Counselling, Writing Center, Financial Aid, Computing
Services, Institutional Diversity and Equity
- Wide-ranging introduction to campus resources
- Need for Triage in What is Most Important, When
- Balancing Workshop Objectives with Colleague’s Strengths/Weaknesses

8. Collaboration
With Other Campus Programs
• Summer Enrichment at Dartmouth Program and other Mentoring Programs
• Native Leadership Institute, International Student Orientation, First Generation
Network
• Balance with Orientation Program for All First Year Students

9. Collaboration
With Other Colleges/Universities
• Institutions similar to Dartmouth
• Institutions with historically different missions
• NPEA

10. First Year Student Enrichment Program
Program Outcomes
• Student reported an increased knowledge of faculty/staff and campus
resources. They were able to name resources such as RWIT, Academic
Skills and the Tutor Clearinghouse
• The top self-reported lessons learned during pre-orientation program
were: time management, how to utilize resources, the value of getting to
know faculty
• Participants reported feeling more confident in their abilities and more
prepared after the five-day program.
• Increased Network/Community of students, staff and faculty
• Student repeatedly used their resources when they had difficulty and
were able to navigate a wide variety of obstacles.
• Understanding of how to be an active learner and increased self-
motivation

11. Questions & Discussion