Wednesday, June 27, 2007
On the 6th and 7th floors of Lewis Hall, 53 incoming freshmen are learning about the University through the Freshmen Summer Institute, a program designed to give incoming freshmen a taste of University life before school starts in the fall.
The institute has been part of the University for 10 years, but this was the first year that it was a four-week session. Previously, the program consisted of two three-week sessions.
Jessica Ward, graduate coordinator for the FSI, said that the change came because the two sessions were not diverse. The first session would have more in-state students and the second session consisted of more out-of-state students.
“They wanted more of an even mix,” Ward said. “I think we have that. We are half and half male and female, and in-state and out-of-state.”
Lisa Moore, FSI resident assistant, said that one more week would help the students bond with each other and get to know the campus and its traditions better in order to be “a step ahead of all their peers.”
Students also said that one week makes a big difference when it comes to the FSI.
“I don’t think three weeks is enough time to get everything that we would like to know and get to know the people that we are trying to get to know.” Ashley Magana-Garcia, Hutchinson freshman, said.
Although students take two classes, the learning experience that the FSI has to offer has less to do with academics and more to do with the little things.
“I was just scared about getting around and knowing where things are,” Tucker Cox, Kansas City, Kan., freshman said.
Students take a tour of campus within the first few days of moving in and have to take PRE 101, a class designed for freshmen who want to learn about the University.
Magana-Garcia said that the teacher in her PRE 101 class said the freshman would get to know campus as well as they knew their own bedrooms.
“Campus is so big and my high school is so little,” Magana-Garcia said. “FSI will definitely help us not feel as much as freshmen.”
The freshmen also do a community service project and are encouraged to attend different floor activities on campus.
Students can go out at night with other FSI participants or stay in and play video games, watch TV or make puzzles. On the 6th floor, there are three different unfinished puzzles on a table in front of the elevator.
The social aspect also plays a big part for students participating in the FSI.
Magana-Garcia came to the FSI to meet other students because she would not be living in the residence halls during the fall. She said the FSI was a good place to meet those students she might not have the chance to meet living in an apartment.
Sam Arkin, Chicago freshman, said that the friendships he has formed at the FSI would help him get better acquainted with the University and dorm life in the fall.
“This is like beginning freshman year early and when we start out with everybody we have friends that we know from the summer and we will all still be friends,” Arkin said.
Some students said the FSI helps them to come back in the fall a step ahead of most other freshman that have not had such exposure to campus life.
“I have the upper hand, especially when 1,000 or 2,000 more freshmen don’t know where they are going, I could just literally laugh at them... not that I will or anything,“ Arkin said.
— Edited by Joe Caponio
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