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First Year Experience

Your First Year, Just the Beginning!

The first-year experience is designed to assist IU South Bend’s first-year students with their transition from high school or a job to the university. 

  • Students will initially meet with an advisor, who will introduce them to campus, assist in planning their course schedule, and encourage them to begin considering a major or an area of interest.

  • Students will have the opportunity to select courses from a variety of first-year seminars. The first-year seminars are taught by the First-Year Experience Faculty. Additionally, each seminar has a peer mentor who serves as an advocate and model student for the class.

First-Year Seminars are courses with smaller class sizes, providing an excellent chance to engage with faculty on a more personal basis and to fulfill at least one of your general education requirements

Betsy Lucal, Ph.D.
  • Professor of Sociology
  • Director, First Year Experience Program
  • Contact Betsy Lucal

Peer Mentors and the First-Year Experience

Assigned to each cohort of students in the first year experience is a peer mentor who will be working with the students in a collaborative learning experience.

Co-curricular activities designed to enhance classroom learning will be an integral part of the program.