First Year Experience

Residence Life’s first year experience (FYEX) program creates an environment for first year students that encourages academic success, cultivates personal growth, and promotes a sense of community as they begin the transition into the college experience. Through programming and other capacities, residence life staff provides resources to empower each first year resident to excel intellectually and socially as active members of Shepherd College.

The Residence Life staff that work with First Year students have four fundamental areas to focus upon for the entire academic year: personal growth, academics, community, and transition (p.a.c.t.). We address these issues by creating theme blocks where the staff focus on programming and discussing the theme issues. Our blocks for the Fall semester include Welcome/Transition, Involvement, Health and Safety/Wellness, Building Relationships, Academic Success and Human Awareness/Diversity. We also do a block focus for the Spring semester where there is a little more time to focus on areas. Our Spring themes include Human Awareness/Diversity, Sophomore Transition, Health and Wellness, and Leadership. We provide free giveaways throughout the year to encourage students to attend these important programs.