2009

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From the Director’s BlackBerry... By Judith Termini

Welcome to the first issue of First Year Experience (FYE) Newsletter! In this issue,we’ll introduce you to the various aspects of our program, as well as our outstanding staff and faculty.

The First Year Experience program began in 1995 with the first offering of the First Year Seminar (FYS). Our mission has always been to provide Gallaudet’s first-year students with learning experiences that foster a smooth transition to college, academic success, personal growth and social responsibility. How, you might wonder, can we manage such comprehensive work? Over the past fourteen years, we’ve developed a variety of strategies and programs.

Since we believe that success in college starts even before students arrive on campus, we work closely with Academic Advising, Admissions, Enrollment Marketing, and Athletics to get to know our new students. During the summer, we offer the JumpStart program, which offers intensive instruction in ASL for new signers, as well as academic preparation in English, mathematics and quantitative reasoning. Every August, we coordinate New Student Orientation. During the academic year, we offer GSR 101 (FYS), a required course in the General Studies Foundations program.

Our new Student Success program includes JumpStart and PLUS (Performance Learning for Undergraduate Students), offered throughout fall and spring semesters.

Every year, FYE and a committee choose our Common Reading book for the community to read (check the FYE website for descriptions of our selections). The book is featured in FYS classes and often the author comes to visit for a day!

Every spring, we work with faculty and staff to choose our Fantastic First Year Students (freshmen and transfers) and we honor them at a reception, which will be on April 22nd at 4 p.m.

This newsletter will feature all of our programs, and our terrific staff and faculty. Please let us know what you think of our newsletter. We value your feedback!

CONTENTSWhat in the world is PLUS? 2Submit your Spring Break Photos! 3Student Voices on POK 4Events for MARCH 2009 5

March

Volume 1, Issue 1

RAPE Awareness March 9th, 10, and 11thMore information forthcoming

NEWSEUMMARCH 8th, 2009

Sign up at FYE - First come, first serve!

Get I

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Who’s Who...

Judith (Judy) TerminiDirector of FYE

Maria WatersGSR 101 Coordinator

Jerri Lyn Dorminy Curriculum & Assessment Coordinator

Darian BurwellStudent Success Coordinator

Jessica CraneTechnical Support Specialist

Jasmine GarciaNew Signers Specialist

Gladys MacInitoshExecutive Secretary

Alim ChandaniGraduate Assistant - PLUS

Taye AkinolaGraduate Assistant - Transfer Students

Krista BrownStudy Table Leader

Angela VasquezStudent Success Assistant

What in the world is PLUS? By Darian Burwell

Have you heard of PLUS? I’m sure you are wondering what in the world is PLUS? Performance Learning for Undergraduate Success is a program designed for first year students who need to improve their academic or signing skills. We collaborate with different departments on campus to be sure our students are getting the help they need. In fall 2008, PLUS started with a small staff of three: Sisakoth Chhun, Rachelle Settambrino and Earl Terry. They were with us in the beginning and offered students great support inside and outside of class. For spring 2009 we have Taye Akinola who focuses on transfer students, Krista Brown tutors for study table, Alim Chandani who coordinates PLUS activities, and Angela Vasquez who is our Student Success assistant. We also hired Jasmine Garcia to strengthen our New Signers Program year-round. Yep, our office has grown and we aim to retain every student with your help. Check us out monthly on Daily Digest for events. As you can see, we are busy!

Want to WIN a $75 PRIZE?Instructions:

a. Come to FYE Office (SAC 1242) and pick up the “Passport” card (for every month)

b. You must attend two workshops per month (you will receive a stamp)c. You must attend Study Table twice a week (you will receive a stamp)d. Repeat “b and c” for month of April. (new “passport” card for the month of

April)e. Bring your “passport” cards (Feb., March, and April) to the FYE Celebration

on Friday, May 1st (More information will be posted soon)f. Drop the cards into the prize boxg. We will raffle out the winner! (3 prizes)h. What’s the prize? COME AND FIND OUT!

Any questions- email Alim Chandani at alim.chandani@gallaudet.edu or stop by FYE office in SAC 1242

Quote(s) of the Month...“The secret to success is to start from scratch and keep on scratching.”

~Dennis Green

“Success isn't a result of spontaneous combustion.  You must set yourself on fire.”

~Arnold H. Glasow

Time Management Workshop - presented by Linda Williams

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Want your ______ to be in the next FYE Newsletter?

by Jasmine Garcia Spring is around the corner! I am sure you all are ready for Spring break? I am excited to be part of this team with our new signers!!

Let me share what has been happening now with the New Signers Program (NSP). NSP tends to happen during the summer and continues for 4 weeks. When the fall semester started, We decided to continue to work with the new signers throughout the year providing different support. What are we doing? We went to Union Station for dinner, SOVA for coffee, met in the G-area for breakfast, gatherings with faculty/staff who are also new signers, and many more.

The current new signers are now working on the NSP website with former new signers will be part of our VLOG. Please keep your eyes open for the website.

If you know any current new signers out there or have any suggestions, contact me at: newsigners@gallaudet.edu.

Transferring into Springby Taye Akinola

Spring semester is in full swing and the students are enthralled into their studies.

Recently, I hosted a java social to meet with the new (and continuing) transfer students to allow them to take a break from their studies and it was beneficial for those who attended. Light refreshments were provided and we discussed ideas for different activities that they would like to see in the upcoming months.

In the month of March, there are many events planned: the study tour to Costa Rica, different workshops, events, museum excursions, and more!

Be on the lookout for e-mails, flyers, and Facebook’s status for more information about upcoming activities and events.

If you have any questions or concerns, or even suggestions, contact me at: transfers@gallaudet.edu

Study Corner...by Krista Brown

Need a quiet place to study? Need help or support with an assignment? I am here to guide you to TACKLE your TOUGHIES!

PLUS study table’s REGULAR hours are: Mondays and Thursdays: 7:30p-9:30pTuesdays and Wednesdays 7p-9p

COME TO SAC 1212!

One week ONLY: March 3 - 5 PLUS study table’s EXTENDED hours are:

Mondays and Thursdays: 7:30p-10p

Tuesdays and Wednesdays 7p-10p

MIDTERMS are coming up!

THEME: SPRING BREAK!

Start taking AWESOME Photos during Spring Break!

GOT NSP?

Submit your Photo to us by Tuesday, March 24th!

(photo must be appropriate)

PHOTO

*photo taken in Guatemala*

MariaWaters’andChrisHeuer’sGSR101/102classhasbeenreadingThePowerofKindnessbyPieroFerrucci,whichwasthisyear’scommonreadingselection.Sheinvitedmetowatchherstudents’presentationsaboutthebook’sconnectiontotheirlives:

DanielleKoplitz‐ChapteronSenseofBelonging“Itisimportanttolistentopeople’sperspectivesontheirsenseofbelonging.Everyonehastheirownwayofbeingconnected.”

BrandonWilliams‐ChapteronSenseofBelonging“Ihavetravelledto11schoolsanditwashardformetoSindaplacewhereIfeelconnected.ThischapterinthebookimpactedmebecauseIcanrelatetotheexperienceofnothavingasenseofbelonging.However,sincearrivinginJanuary,IdofeelthatIhavefoundmysenseofbelongingatGallaudetUniversity.”

JefferyStroud‐ChapteronFlexibility“ThebooktaughtmetheconceptofcontrollingyourSlexibility.HavingtoomuchSlexibilityinyourlifeisnotalwaysgood.ItmademerealizethatIneedtocontroltheSlexibilityinmyscheduleanddailyplanning.”

TiandraTrent‐ChapteronHonesty“Thischapterinthebooktaughtmetobehonestwithmyselfinordertohavehappinessinlife.Allmylife,IhavebeenisolatedasadeafchildandifIkeepdenyingmyfeelings,Iwouldn’tbehonestwithmyself.IneedtosharemyhonestfeelingswithmyfamilyandfriendssotheycanacceptmeforwhoIam.”

JeromeWilcox‐ChapteronForgiveness“Ihavelearnedthat“forgivenessisnotsomethingwedo,it’sthewaywelive.”Oftentimes,weseesomepeopleouttherewhodonotgiverespecttoothersanditisourdutytolearnhowtogiverespectthroughforgiveness.”

Jeffery Stroud Jerome Wilcox Danielle Koplitz Brandon Williams

Student Voices in GSR 101/102 Section 4 by Alim Chandani

Check Out!- Info on NEWSEUM, go to www.newseum.org

- Info on Cherry Blossom Festival, go to www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org

REMEMBER THESE UPCOMING DATES:

RIT/Gallaudet WeekendApril 17th-19th

FYE Success CelebrationFriday, May 1st, 2009More information coming soon!

MARCH ‘09

8Tour to NEWSEUMFREE! Time: 1pm - 5pm Sign up at FYE - SAC 1242First come, first serve!

9RAPE AwarenessLook out for more information soon! Contact krista.brown@gallaudet.edu

10RAPE AwarenessLook out for more information soon! Contact krista.brown@gallaudet.edu

11RAPE AwarenessLook out for more information soon! Contact krista.brown@gallaudet.edu

25Show me the Money! Learn to manage your moneyPresented by Justin ShawTime: 12pm-1pmWhere: LC 1125

29Cherry Blossom FestivalWhere: Jefferson MemorialFor more information, contact alim.chandani@gallaudet.edu

31PLUS Meeting Look out for more information soon!

Got New and Creative Ideas?

contact alim.chandani@gallaudet.edu

DON’T FORGET to wear your

on Wednesdays!

FYE/PLUS Workshop

BUFF&BLUENAVIGATEyour way to SUCCESS!!

Special Thanks to the following people who helped to make this FYE Newsletter:

Alim Chandani, Taye Akinola, Jesse Crane, Jasmine Garcia, Maria Waters, Darian Burwell, Judy Termini, Krista Brown, and students from GSR classes.

93% 1st year students

returned this semester

74 students will go to Costa Rica

DID YOU KNOW?

95% JumpStart students

returned this semester

100% New Signers

returned this semester