First Year Success (FYS) Program Services

First Year Success (FYS) Program Services

The First Year Success (FYS) Program provides opportunities for MSU Denver students to maximize success in their first year of college through linked courses, active learning, and access to enhanced resources.   FYS is open to all students with less than 12 completed credit hours.  Suitable both for traditional students and those whose time constraints might not enable them to otherwise immerse themselves in college life,  FYS provide students with many benefits designed to enrich their time here, such as linked courses, a collegial environment, supplemental programming, and enhanced support services designed to promote academic and personal success.

Services provided to FYS Students:

•   Learning Community Courses – All students who elect to participate in the FYS Program will take six (6) credit hours of linked courses in their Fall or Spring semester.  All 3-credit courses  assigned in Learning Community cohorts meet General Studies Level 1 requirements.  These linked courses (along with supplemental instruction sessions) create a sense of community among MSU Denver students, allowing you to experience both the benefits of being part of a large, urban university and the intimacy of a small liberal arts college.

• Peer Study/Supplemental Instruction – To support community building and facilitate a deeper understanding of course content, students participate in weekly study groups with other classmates.  A Supplemental Instructor (a master student, usually one who has excelled in the specific subject matter at hand) will facilitate these interactive weekly sessions and be on hand to provide assistance where needed.

• Special SOAR (Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration) Orientation – Students participating in the FYS program attend a specially designed orientation featuring prioritized access to advising services.

• Individualized Academic Advising – All FYS students will be connected with an Academic Advisor through the Office of Academic Advising.  Assigned specifically to the program and attuned to your needs, the FYS Advisor assists students with course selection and degree planning.

• Special Welcome Program – Students participating in FYS are invited to a special welcome program prior to the Fall semester during which they meet faculty members and other members of their learning community.

• Opportunities for Involvement Outside of Class – from on-campus co-curricular events to off campus civic engagement projects,  you’ll have the chance to connect with each other, Metro, and the world.

• Academic Alert – To support student success, FYS follows students’ academic progress during the semester.  Students who experience academic difficulty will be connected with additional academic support services on campus.

• Professors Invested in Your Success – Instructors of FYS courses are provided with resources and professional development opportunities to enhance their ability to provide you with active and engaging learning environments.  Courses are designed to deepen your own ability to apply what you learn throughout your college career and beyond.

Connect With Other Students – Empower Your Education – Grow as Scholars and Leaders

Your Success is Our Success

For more information regarding the First Year Success program, call 303-352-4195 or visit the Student Success Building 217.