K-State First The university’s first-year experience program Built on the philosophy that “A great college experience starts with a great first year”

Key Components First-Year Seminars (63, with ~1,250 seats) Learning Communities (16, with ~300 seats) KSBN: K-State Book Network GPS: Guide to Personal Success Also: advocacy for first-year students, campus-wide connections, assessment, and more

FYS Course Characteristics 22 or fewer students, all first years Common outcomes: communication, critical thinking, application of learning, and community building Benefits: small class sizes, ample opportunities to interact with teachers and other students, excellent teachers, active learning co-curricular events

FYS Course Listing For Fall 2013: 50 sections – A variety of offerings in the arts & humanities, the social sciences, and natural sciences. Something for everyone! – Some great courses to consider: MLANG 280 War & the Holocaust in 20th C Lit ENVD 210 Art, Architecture, & Culture of India HMD 120 Survey of the Hospitality Industry ENTOM 301 Insects and People

How to Enroll in a FYS Seats will become available gradually throughout June Orientation and Enrollment. Please enroll students in any available spot. If you’d really like to enroll a student in a section that appears closed for that day, please contact Greg or Emily. Contact us: or call Greg at or at (June O&E

CAT Communities Learning communities of 22 first-year students Built around a common student interest The cohort take together two regular courses plus a one-hour CAT (Connecting Across Topics) Class Each learning community has an undergraduate Learning Assistant to assist the instructor

CAT Communities for 2013 For Fall 2013: 16 CAT Communities A variety of learning communities Most are focused on gen ed course connections But some emphasize … – Pre-professional interests and goals – An added residence life experience (with a year- long peer mentor!) – A once-in-a-lifetime study abroad opportunity (with scholarships available!)

How to Enroll in a CAT Community Students may already be enrolled before orientation, if they have signed up early. When meeting with a student who is interested but not yet signed up, make sure the courses fit the student’s schedule and contact Greg. Best bet during June Orientation & Enrollment: or call Greg at 785- You may also call or send the student to our K-State First center in the Union Stateroom.

KSBN K-State Book Network University-wide common reading program All first-year students will read the book Whole campus community will be invited to read the book and join the network Benefits of a common reading program

KSBN’s 2013 Book Ready Player One This book takes place in a not so distant future, where resources are scarce and life for most is pretty grim. People around the world plug into the OASIS, an open source virtual reality, to live, learn, and play. When the creator of the OASIS dies, it is revealed that he has hidden three keys throughout the OASIS and the person to find them all will win millions of dollars and own controlling stake in the company. Five years after the creator’s death, the protagonist Wade discovers the first key, which launches an international quest to find the others and own the OASIS.

KSBN: Books & Events First-year students will get their copies at orientation Copies will be also be available for purchase at the K-State Union Bookstore, for borrowing through the Sigma Tau Delta lending library Watch for the events & discussions in the fall Already scheduled: An evening with author Ernest Cline (Oct 10), an alternate reality game, Movies on the Grass event called Serious Play (Sept 8) Please talk with students about the book and encourage them to join the discussions and events

Reminders & thank you! Check the website for up-to- date information and course listingswww.k-state.edu/first Please recommend the FYS courses and CAT Communities to your first-year advisees Please enroll each student in only one FYS or CAT Community If you have questions, problems, or unique circumstances, please call Greg ( ) anytime. We want to help.