A message from Roger Richardson, associate vice president for academic and student affairs, and dean for the First-Year Experience:
The Ithaca College First-Year Experience is the foundation of the Ithaca Experience. The mission of the First-Year Experience is to assist new students in making a successful transition to college, to provide them with the basis for fostering lifelong learning, and to make the commitment to active membership in a diverse community.
The First-Year Experience is a comprehensive range of academic and educational programs that respond to a common institutional vision and purpose, "fostering intellect, creativity, and character in an active, student-centered learning community."
As such, each year the First-Year Experience Coordinating Committee selects a foundational focus for the incoming class ingrained in this vision for Ithaca College. "Character" will serve as the foundational theme for new students entering in the 2008-09 academic year.
By embracing the challenges and opportunities afforded by the First-Year Experience, students will become more aware of who they are, the values and actions of the person they would like to become, and how to be intentional regarding their ongoing development as a person of strong character.
The First-Year Experience will provide Ithaca College students with the opportunity and environment to engage in the purposeful processes of reflection and discussion regarding the meaning of character and character development. During the year -- through academic, educational, and social programs -- first-year students will read about, discuss, and reflect upon issues that relate to character and character development.
Please join the First Year Experience Coordinating Committee in our efforts to assist new students to develop this important attribute by integrating the foundational theme of "Character" into your program planning and student training activities for academic year 2008-09.
https://www.ithaca.edu/intercom/article.php/20080319140132142