Start your college career right

The First-Year Experience (FYE) program is an academic program designed to fully integrate you into the academic and cultural community of SWAU. All incoming first-year students will have an opportunity to meet other new students, work with engaging faculty, and create connections with your assigned Success Coach. FYE is designed to help you transition to college life while studying something that interests you.   

As a first-year student, you are required to:  

• Enroll in UNIV107 Habits for Success and UNIV107L Learning Community 
• Meet with your Success Coach  
• Meet with your assigned Academic Advisor  
• Attend mandatory events  

Success Coaches

Every first-year student is given a family group and a Success Coach who serves as a peer mentor to support them through their first year here. Success Coaches are peers trained to provide emotional, academic, and spiritual support to freshmen so that they can thrive during their first year at Southwestern. They build connections with students by arranging individual meetings and participating in interactive group events.

Success Coaches are assigned approximately 10-12 students who they meet with individually throughout the semester. These meetings serve as a checkpoint for both mentors and first-year students to discuss how the semester is going. The topics of these meetings can range from academics, campus involvement, seeking resources, and more.   

Habits for Success (UNIV107)

The Habits for Success course is a required one-credit and one-semester course designed to provide students with the tools needed to persist and succeed at Southwestern Adventist University and life after college. This course provides an introduction and opportunity for you to transition to university life as you discover the resources available (academic, co-curricular, community). This course helps students learn strategies for school/life balance, assists in preparing students for work in a diverse world, and provides opportunities for students to build connections. This class is pass/fail. Based on involvement, participation, and work completion in class, a final pass/fail grade will be determined.    

Who should enroll in UNIV107 Habits for Success?   

• All first-time college students MUST enroll in UNIV107 their first semester.  
• Transfer students with less than 30 semester credit hours.  

What are some key takeaways from UNIV107?  

• You will connect with other students on campus.  
• You will hear presentations from various campus support services like tutoring, career services, financial services, library services, counseling services, etc.  
• You will connect with your Success Coach, who will serve as your mentor throughout your first year in college.    
• Upper-class students will share their college life experiences.  
• You will learn study skills like how to take notes, manage your time, learn test-taking skills, etc.   

Learning Community (UNIV107L) 

The Learning Community, which focuses on Career Explorations, is tailored for college freshmen. This engaging series of sessions and workshops, led by experienced faculty and guest presenters, is specifically designed to guide you through the exploration of potential career paths. Delve into the world of professions, acquire essential skills, and gain valuable insights to shape your academic and professional trajectory. Whether you're refining your goals or seeking inspiration, this course provides a supportive space for personal and professional growth, setting you on the path to a fulfilling and purpose-driven future right from the start of your college journey.   

Make the most of your KNIGHT Experience!

Create your own unique Knight experience by participating in events and activities that will connect you to a variety of resources and opportunities. We encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and explore events that will challenge you and teach you something new.