First-Year Islanders

The first year of college can be tough for some students. It's sometimes a challenge to go from high school life to a more robust and independent higher education experience. Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi has extensive experience in supporting the academic and social needs of its first-year students. Our efforts have brought national acclaim from many organizations, including the Foundations of Excellence in the First College Year project.

From its first days in 1994 in serving freshman students, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi has offered a comprehensive and inclusive First-Year Learning Communities program to all freshmen. This program links the required core classes with personalized critical thinking and active opportunity we call "seminar." These seminar courses are kept small in size so students can work closer with faculty and friendships among classmates can be fostered. This hands-on support and collegiality helps greatly in the transition from high school to college.

The University provides several
initiatives for First-Year Islanders.

Just before the start of the semester first year-students engage in many opportunities that guide them toward the path to success. The WAVE Bridge Experience offers a series of activities, games and information sessions designed by campus faculty, staff, and advisors to address the most common challenges that students encounter when starting college.

We begin the freshman year with the First-Year Islanders Convocation, where the University celebrates our incoming freshmen and thanks the staff, advisors, and faculty who will be encouraging and inspiring our new students to do well in their first year. It's our way of matching names with faces and building a very personal relationship among those whose major goal is to achieve success.

Pick Your Path for Math allows first-year students to choose the format for their math classes that whey believe will best help them learn and succeed. Math instruction is provided in computer-based and traditional formats. Modular formatted math courses will be piloted in fall 2010.

First-Year Islander faculty are continually researching and adopting best practices in content and instruction. It's a commitment across campus and within many disciplines where faculty encourage their colleagues to explore better ways for students to learn and for faculty to teach.

It's win-win for Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and students
because both work together to build the foundation that
will lead to the strengths needed to do well in class and
in the University community.