First-Year Engagement
First-Year Engagement (FYE) is an array of opportunities for new students to
become familiar with Penn State and specifically the York campus. Students
learn about the University, campus policies and procedures, meet faculty and staff, and students, and discover more about academics, classes,
co-curricular activities and programs.
At Penn State York, the First-Year Engagement has two mandatory steps prior to the start of the academic year:
Step 1: The First-Year Testing, Consulting and Advising Program (FTCAP) -
Introduces students and their families to the rigors of academic life in a
day long program that includes, placement testing, discussing course
selection, and scheduling classes. The FTCAP day is scheduled during the
summer and includes meetings with academic advisers.
Step II: New Student Orientation Program - New students meet in smallgroups during the late summer and interact with current students, faculty, and staff with the goal of making the transition to college life easier. The daylong program helps new students getting to know each other and the
campus community as well as explaining what is expected from students at
Penn State York. The date students attend orientation is determined by intended academic major. New Student Orientation is for students only.
Evening Orientation is a program especially designed for our evening-only students. Meetings with faculty and campus staff members help acquaint new evening students with the campus and services that are available.
Penn State York also offers a series of summer day trips for new students. These programs are free to new students and are designed as fun events in which you can meet your fellow classmates.
Step III: The First-Year Engagement continues with a yearlong series of academic and co-curricular programs including Welcome Week, college meetings with academic advisers, Early Progress Reports, University Park connections, and participation in day trips.Please contact the Student Affairs office at 717-771-4045 for more information.
Welcome Week
Welcome Week encourages all students to kick back and have fun as the semester starts up. Whether it be noon time entertainment, evening performances, an all-campus picnic, something is scheduled each day/evening for the first week of classes. These events allow new and returning students to mix and mingle with faculty and get to know who's who on campus. In addition, there is an organization and club fair to get provide students the opportunity to get involved with co-curricular programs and activities.
College Survival Skills Seminars
College Survival Skills seminars, focus on the technology skills needed to be successful in your classes. Seminars cover eLion, WebMail, ANGEL, and Word.
Academic College Meetings
In September, students are invited to college meetings according to their chosen or intended academic major. For example: students in or aspiring to be in the college of engineering will meet together, along with the engineering faculty and advisers, to discuss academic goals, develop future course schedules, and network with upperclass student. Students uncertain of their major can attend several meetings to explore their options.
Nittany Success Center Workshops
Take advantage of free workshops in the Nittany Success Center that hone your skills as a college-level learner. Learn how to learn, how to study, how to take notes effectively, how to better manage your time, and how to take and pass a test.
Take a Faculty or Staff Member to Lunch
Invite a faculty or staff member to lunch. Pick-up a coupon in the Student Affairs office and have a free lunch in the Lion's Den or The Bistro.
Lunchtime Faculty Information Sessions
Join a faculty member for lunch in the Lion's Den and chat about your major, your classes, internships and jobs. These informal sessions give you the opportunity to ask academic questions and resolve concerns.
DUS Navigator 101
Wondering how to successfully navigate your first year at Penn State? Have a major in mind, but don't know enough about it? To help you deal with these issues, academic advisers in Penn State's Division of Undergraduate Studies have developed DUS Navigator 101, an educational planning program for first-year students. Contact the Advising and Career Development in the Main Classroom building for more information.