By: Danica Propst

Freshmen began their college journey as a Bobcat this fall and are jumping into the semester as a student of the new Freshmen Year Experience classes, or FYEX, as part of the new general education program. 

The FYEX program exists to help freshmen find their footing as they make the transition from high school to college. Freshmen are required to attend a lecture with a professor and teacher’s assistant (TA) twice a week to build study and writing skills to prepare them for their upper level courses that are far different from the type of schoolwork they experienced in high school. 

“Being a TA for an FYEX class has allowed me to become more immersive in the college experience, especially as someone who had their freshman first semester online,” said junior TA Abby Bowe. Her role this semester and the role of other TA’s like her have allowed students to connect with older students who have had at least a year under their belt and can provide support and advice that the professor of the class might not be able to. 

“The most beneficial skill that we have learned in this class is time management and how to balance your time between academics and other activities,” said freshman Drew Napoleon. As a baseball player, adjusting to the workload from his classes and practices with the team has been a challenge to navigate in these first few weeks of the semester. 

The class also works to familiarize students with campus life and resources that are available to them through Wesleyan. FYEX courses help students build relationships within their year and grow relationships with professors and mentors that can be valuable aids throughout the rest of their time here at Wesleyan.

Along with the biweekly classes, all freshmen are required to attend a communal lecture in the auditorium as a complete class. Organizations and administrators on campus present and discuss different topics and features about West Virginia Wesleyan. In the last few weeks, co-curricular transcripts, the writing center, the learning center, academic and professional integrity, and spirituality and ethics have been lectured on, along with presentations from a multitude of organizations such as WE LEAD and diversity organizations such as the Black Student Union. These meetings set clear expectations for students at Wesleyan in academic, service, and athletic contexts and provide standards to strive for while working to achieve your degree. 

“I think that it’s a great way for first-generation students to understand how college starts, preparation for college, and how to manage your time once you’re here,” added freshman Isaac Ferguson.

His statement broadens the impact of the FYEX program and shows how beneficial it can be for all students regardless of their situation. FYEX is the most effective welcome to give these new Bobcats the start they need to excel here at Wesleyan as part of a community.

This feeling of community is promoted by students like Bowe, who explains, “It has been very rewarding to form relationships with the students in my class and I hope that I can be a helping hand for anything they need while at Wesleyan!”