MU | F e a t u r e s
FYS replaced the former College Writing
course, adding more emphasis on critical
thinking to complement writing. Even so, the
writing assessments required in the original
course remain in the new format. Before the
current FYS format started, all first-year
students took the same course and used the
same book. Now, however, they have more
options and can study a subject more in tune
with their interests.
For the faculty and staff members who
teach FYS courses, the ability to personalize
a course to accommodate a wide range of
interests “is what makes people want to
teach,” says Erickson-Pesetski. “It makes it
more fun for me to teach, too,” she adds.
Students appreciate the individualized
attention. “FYS showed me that professors
at Manchester are really approachable and
they care about you as a student and as a
person,” says Aator. “They know this is your
first college class, so they take their time to
help you get into the groove of things if they
know you’re struggling. I still go back and talk
to Heather (Schilling) if I have any questions
or if I’m unsure about something,” she added.
Even after FYS ends, the benefits continue.
“It’s really nice to know that there’s a group
of people you can go back to if you have
an issue or if you’re lonely,” says Aator.
For Laing, the learning continued after the
course officially ended. “Dr. Ings asked about
going to the Research Symposium for the
FYS division,” she said. “I ended up going
and I won the FYS category, which was a
huge confidence booster. That was the first
big presentation I did. It cured me of being
super-nervous for presentations after that.”
By Emily Barrand ’16
Prelude to Welcome Week gets first-year
group off to a solid start
B
onnie O’Connell knows how
important a good start is
for new college students.
That’s why she and several
colleagues launched Quick Start, a fourday prelude to first-year Welcome Week
at Manchester.
“We recognize that a transition from
high school to university life can be
challenging and little overwhelmin