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Student Success » Programs » Freshman Year Program

Freshman Year Program

The Medgar Evers College (MEC) Freshman Year Program is designed to help students develop the skillset and discipline to transition from high school to college and complete their degrees on time. The goal is to support our students in having a Freshman year that integrates and incorporates both academic and non-academic programming while providing a socially inclusive environment that supports the emotional and educational needs of our students.

Key Benefits:

  • Improve academic performance
  • Build skills essential for academic success
  • Assist students on how to utilize on-campus resources
  • Foster student-faculty relationships
  • Develop critical thinking skills
  • Understanding learning style and taking necessary

What is Freshman Seminar?

Freshman Seminar is designed to ease student transition from high school to college life that creates a space for students to discuss and reflect on their academic goals. The discussion-oriented classes are taught by faculty members, small in size to give each student the opportunity to develop academic skills in a collaborative environment.

During the first semester, all first-year students are expected and encouraged to take FS-101 and 15 credits that meet the student’s general education requirements to graduate on time.

First Semester FS 101 is a foundational course designed to orient all first-time freshmen and readmitted students with less than fifteen credits to Medgar Evers College. There are specific general education courses that are linked to FS 101 so that students can integrate and apply FS 101 reading, writing, and analytical techniques to their content-based courses.This course is a one-credit course and meets for three hours a week.

Students are introduced to the following modules:

  • Orientation to learn about MEC’s history, mission, vision, students’ rights, and responsibilities
  • Medgar Wiley Evers and the importance of civic engagement
  • Building relationships with faculty and peers
  • Learn how to manage college and life and create efficient schedules for success
  • Learn effective study skills that consist of note-taking, outlining, test-taking
  • Technological proficiency in an academic environment using College email account software, Blackboard, CUNYfirst, Schedule Builder, EAB Navigate, e-portfolio, and library research
  • Basic financial literacy
  • Wellness for the mind and body, overcoming test anxiety, diet, and physical activity
During the second semester, all first-year students are encouraged to take FS 102 as an elective or major requirement. FS 102 will be a focal point for developing critical thinking and research skills through establishing learning communities between Library 100 (LIB 100) and an introductory course of the student’s major. Students benefit from taking three courses in a cohort with their peers Students will learn the following:

  • Develop interests and skills through targeted activities and career assessments
  • Develop a personal brand reflected in an e-portfolio
  • Develop compelling biography, cover letter, resume, and elevator pitch
  • Learn interviewing techniques and communication strategies
  • Gain an understanding of how organizations operate, from structure to job description and evaluation
  • Learn how to compare and contrast themselves with successful individuals within their career fields to see what worked and what didn’t
  • Learn practical skills to make informed financial and life decisions upon graduation
  • Learn about post-graduate and professional opportunities affiliated with their majors and career choices.

This course is a one-credit course, and meets for one hour and fifteen minutes, once a week.