The First-Year Program (FYP) is an important component of Eastern’s experience for first-year students. The program is designed to give first-time, full-time students a rich and comprehensive introduction to academics, campus life and the liberal arts philosophy at Eastern. In the fall semester of their first year at Eastern, students will sign up for FYI 100. In this 3-credit introductory course, students will gain the necessary skills of good scholarship and work closely and interactively in a small class with a faculty member, a peer mentor and fellow classmates. Students will also be acquainted with resources and services available on campus, as well as clubs, activities and other programs vital to the Eastern experience.
First-Year Program Goals
The overriding goal of the First-Year Program is to ensure that every first-time, full-time student makes a successful transition to college. To achieve this goal, FYI 100 promotes the following objectives:
Students will be introduced to skills that enhance an understanding of campus and community resources. With an online Learning Management System (LMS), a peer mentor and a faculty member, the program will cover topics such as registration and advising, academic integrity, time management and financial literacy.
Through the academic subject matter in each seminar section, students will be introduced to the intellectual and academic skills that correspond to the higher academic standards they will be expected to meet during their study at Eastern. The academic skills covered in FYI 100 include reading, writing, giving oral reports, library research, test-taking and critical thinking, all integral parts of Eastern’s liberal arts education.
- Creating Learning Communities:
In order to establish and maintain interpersonal relationships, FYI 100 classes consist of small groups of 25 students. Each is a learning community promoting collaboration between students, a peer mentor and a faculty member both in and outside of the classroom through activities such as active learning exercises, field trips and a variety of on-campus cultural and entertainment events. In addition, FYI 100 can be articulated through a specific theme, major or activity.
| 
