The Office of First Year Experiences was established in July 2009. This newly established office is committed to improving the first-year experiences for Virginia Tech’s freshmen and transfer students. As part of the Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) component of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools- Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC) Reaffirmation of Accreditation process, Pathways to Success emerged as a new initiative. Pathways is designed to set first-year students on their own paths equipped with appropriate tools for exploration and discovery, and provide them with the curricular and co-curricular opportunities necessary to fully engage as learners and ultimately as citizens.

Through a competitive grant process in spring 2011, the Office of First Year Experiences received proposals for funding. Twelve proposals were offered funding for the second year of Pathways to Success. The Office of First Year Experience extends its gratitude to all faculty members who submitted proposals and would like to congratulate the following funded proposals.

2011-2012 Pathways to Success First Year Experience Projects

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Building Connections in Biochemistry
This Pathways program is included in an existing course and is designed to build awareness of the questions and problems that can be addressed using biochemical approaches and to share how scientists acquire and interpret data to support or refute hypotheses.
Contact:  Dr. Glenda Gillaspy, Gillaspy@vt.edu

From Seeding to Feeding: A College Approach to the First Year Experience
This is a collaborative project across several departments in the college. The course is designed to promote a multidisciplinary perspective when exploring topics and problems and to expose students to various aspects and disciplines in agriculture and life sciences.
Contact:  Ms. Renee Selberg-Easton, rselberg@vt.edu

College of Architecture and Urban Studies

Pathways to Success in Building Construction
This project incorporates the principles of Pathways in existing two semester long courses in the major.  Attention is given to assisting and nurturing the development of critical thinking in first year students as they identify their strengths, create a self-directed learning plan that addresses their strengths, learn how to relate to others, and reflect on their learning – all within the context of learning about building construction.
Contact:  Dr. Thomas Mills, thommill@vt.edu

Design Thinking: Defying Preconceptions
This program enhances the existing Foundation Program in the School of Architecture + Design by embedding the principles of Pathways to Success into an ongoing learning experience. The current funding provided support for a transition program for incoming students during the second summer session of 2011 that was developed to familiarize students with college life and to what design entails.  Pathways to Success components have also been incorporated within several sections of the year long Foundation Design Laboratory.  
Contact:  Dr. Kathryn Albright, kclarke@vt.edu

College of Engineering

Stepping into STEM – Creating a Solid Foundation for First Year Engineering Students 
Stepping into STEM integrates the elements of the Pathways to Success program into the Hypatia and Galileo living learning communities associated with Engineering. The goals of this FYE include helping students to adjust to the reality of life at college by developing better study and time management skills, providing students with mentoring, and engaging students in a rich and meaningful college experience.  
Contact:  Ms. Susan Arnold-Christian, susanac@vt.edu

College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences

Introduction to a Research University
Through an academic course, this first year experience promotes and develops a “community of scholars” through a focus on undergraduate research – an ongoing commitment of the college.  It is applicable to all disciplines within the College and provides students with information, resources, and experiences that will help them to be successful at Virginia Tech.
Contact:  Dr. Rachel Holloway, rhollowa@vt.edu

College of Natural Resources and Environment

First- Year Experience in the College of Natural Resources and Environment
Utilizing an existing course in the college, this FYE provides students with the opportunity to explore a variety of career pathways from diverse programs while adjusting to and benefiting from campus life. With a focus on encouraging the engagement of the students in the work of the disciplines in the College, it helps students develop their sense of identity, relate to the College as their home, and encourage their involvement in undergraduate research, internships, study-abroad, and other relevant programs.
Contact:  Dr. Don Orth, dorth@vt.edu

Pamplin College of Business

Quick-Start to Business
This Pathways to Success program immerses first year business students in a learning environment that is designed to develop and support their decision-making skills especially as they relate to using technology in business settings and refining and using information literacy skills.   
Contact:  Dr. Candace Clemenz, clemenz@vt.edu

College of Science

A First Year Experience Program for Physics Majors
Utilizing an existing course, the FYE for physics majors provides first year and transfer physics majors with a foundation for success in their undergraduate degree and subsequent careers by focusing on their problem solving skills and their ability to access information, evaluate existing knowledge and integrate knowledge and experience across various disciplines.  It exposes students to the many arenas in which physicists work and helps students develop career plans and goals.
Contact:  Dr. John Simonetti, jsimonet@vt.edu

Pathways Through and Beyond the Psychology Major
This FYE will be a spring semester on-line course that provides a structured and student centered introduction to the psychology major. Students will interact with information about their major, Virginia Tech, and the career paths associated with psychology.
Contact:  Dr. Kurt Hoffman, hoff@vt.edu

Zip-Line to Success – A First Year Experience for Transfer Students in the College of Science
Zip-Line to Success is designed to meet the unique academic and developmental needs of transfer students to the College of Science – particularly those students transferring from community colleges – by helping students navigate academic planning and develop teamwork skills and a sense of community.
Contact:  Mr. Gary Kinder, gkinder@vt.edu

University Studies

Hokie Horizons: Pathways to Success
Hokie Horizons is designed to help students enrolled in University Studies (US) better navigate the university, engage in education, and succeed in their college experience. Sections of Hokie Horizons are offered using one of three delivery modes: traditional classroom, online, and a hybrid of traditional classroom and online components. Academic advisors teach the Hokie Horizons sections and also serve as the academic advisor for the group of students in the section as long as the students remain in University Studies.
Contact:  Ms. Therese Lovegreen, talovegre@vt.edu

Special thanks to the faculty members and students who sat on the Grant Panel and reviewed proposals. Over the course of five years, Pathways to Success, intends to reach all incoming freshmen and transfer students at Virginia Tech. 

For more information, including the evolution of this initiative, click on the Quality Enhancement Plan tab to download and view Virginia Tech’s Quality Enhancement Plan, Pathways to Success.