First Year Experience at Otterbein
Otterbein’s First Year Experience program has been designed to help all new students make a successful transition to Otterbein. Your transition will start with orientation and it will continue as you engage with the academic and co-curricular experiences designed to engage new students throughout their first year on campus.
Information for Faculty
Resources for faculty teaching in the FYE program can be found in the General Education Resources LibGuide.
Program Director: Colette Masterson
Phone: 614-823-3205
Email: cmasterson@otterbein.edu
Program Director: Jennifer Bechtold
Phone: 614-823-1624
Email: jbechtold@otterbein.edu
What is the First Year Seminar Course (FYS)?
The First Year Seminar is a signature component of the FYE program and serves as the beginning course in the Integrative Studies curriculum. First Year Seminars serve as the first course in Otterbein’s Integrative Studies (general education) program. The seminars are diverse in topic and disciplinary perspective, but share a set of goals and outcomes related to student learning and transition into the Otterbein academic community.
The seminars are taught by a wide range of faculty and are designed to provide students with an introduction to interdisciplinary learning. Students should choose a seminar that seems interesting to them; no major requires a specific seminar. Therefore the seminars are also a great way for students who are undecided or unsure of their major to explore different topics or areas.
There are also specifically designed seminars for students who may not be new to college, or may be returning as a non-traditionally aged student. These seminars are called Transition Year Seminars. They fulfill the same learning goals and curricular requirement as the First Year Seminar, but the focus of the class and the students enrolled in the class will not be first time, first year students. These sections are specifically listed with the TYS course prefix in the schedule of classes. Transfer and adult students are welcome to take a traditional FYS course, but have the option of taking a TYS section.
What is a Peer Mentor?
First Year Experience Peer Mentors are leaders on campus who help ease the transition to college for first-year students. Peer Mentors will offer peer insight into academic and social life at college, as well as provide supplemental support for new Otterbein students. Please contact Colette Masterson, Associate Director of New Student Transitions with comments/questions.
FYE Events Calendar
The transition into the Otterbein community involves many elements, both inside and outside of the classroom. Co-curricular experiences have always been valued as an important part of a student’s educational experience – so the FYE program has significant co-curricular programming to deliver on the overall program goals.
Each week, there are set events that peer mentors will present to students on successful tips for transitioning to college. First Year Students must attend three of these events in their first semester on campus.
Questions about events? Email fye@otterbein.edu or call 614-823-3202.
For more information about co-curricular programming or transition support, please contact Jennifer Bechtold, 614-823-1624, jbechtold@otterbein.edu or Colette Masterson, 614-823-3205, cmasterson@otterbein.edu.
| Student Learning Outcomes | University Learning Goals (KMERI*) |
| GOAL 1: REFLECT; Reflect on the significance of your education, values, passions, and previous experiences in your search for meaning and purpose. | Engaged, Responsible |
| REFLECT OUTCOME 1: Reflect on the significance of your learning through your education and other facets of life. | Engaged |
| REFLECT OUTCOME 2: Reflect on the interconnections between your education and other experiences. | Engaged |
| REFLECT OUTCOME 3: Reflect on how your personal values and passions have informed your education, professional development, and other experiences. | Engaged, Responsible |
| GOAL 2: ENGAGE; Access the possibilities, resources, and experiences that will propel your education, life path, and work path. | Knowledgeable, Multi-literate |
| ENGAGE OUTCOME 1: Discover the personal and professional relevance of Otterbein classes, different majors and minors, general education and Integrative Studies courses, and co-curricular experiences. | Multi-literate |
| ENGAGE OUTCOME 2: Envision, plan, and complete a substantive immersive experience that nurtures your personal and professional growth. | Knowledgeable, Multi-literate |
| ENGAGE OUTCOME 3: Connect to resources that promote academic and professional success, belonging, wellness, and life and work planning. | Multi-literate |
| GOAL 3: ANTICIPATE; Imagine the future purposes of the knowledge, skills, passions, and values you’ve developed through academic and individual experiences. | Inquisitive, Responsible |
| ANTICIPATE OUTCOME 1: Anticipate your future obligations as an individual, a professional, a member of diverse communities, and an agent of the public good. | Inquisitive, Responsible |
| ANTICIPATE OUTCOME 2: Anticipate the challenges you may encounter in new contexts and how you will rise to meet them. | Inquisitive |
| ANTICIPATE OUTCOME 3: Anticipate how your knowledge, skills, passions, and values will inform your future goals and action steps. | Inquisitive, Responsible |
| GOAL 4: TRANSITION; Prepare for your transition into new personal, professional, communal, and global contexts. | Knowledgeable, Multi-literate |
| TRANSITION OUTCOME 1: Prepare for the college transition with students across disciplines, doing vital readiness work. | Knowledgeable, Multi-literate |
| TRANSITION OUTCOME 2: Develop skills essential to academic and professional success, community engagement, and self-actualization. | Multi-literate |
| TRANSITION OUTCOME 3: Develop the awareness, knowledge, and skills that foster equity and inclusion in diverse communities and workplaces. | Knowledgeable, Multi-literate |
| TRANSITION OUTCOME 4: Understand the importance of creativity, critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and professionalism to your work path and life path. | Multi-literate |
*NOTE: KMERI refers to Otterbein's learning goals. It stands for Knowledgeable, Multi-literate, Engaged, Responsible, and Inquisitive. To learn more about KMERI, visit our University Learning Goals page.