Thank you, Provost de Abruña. My name is Dianne Creagh. I am the Director of the York College First-Year Experience Program.
I wish to congratulate all of our incoming students on selecting York College to be your new college home. You have chosen a campus and community where new student success is not just a slogan; it’s built into your first-year curriculum. It’s in your First-Year Seminar course, and in the Common Hour events you’ll be attending.
In FYS and Common Hour, professors, peer mentors, and expert staff members guide you through your transition to becoming a successful Spartan. We know what you want and need in your first semester here. As you make this leap, you want to learn how to manage your life and your studies, and take good care of yourself in college. You want to learn more about topics that interest you and explore some topics that are completely new to you. You want to feel both welcome and challenged, supported and inspired. Most of all, you want to get connected. That’s what FYS and Common Hour are all about.
They help you meet the higher bar of college academics, meet new friends who share your interests, and tailor your York College experience to meet your needs. Your first clues about Common Hour are on the back of your Convocation program, and you will learn more about your first Common Hour experience this weekend during orientation. New transfer students, we especially welcome you to Common Hour, and hope you will join us to pick up some useful tips and have some fun, even if this is not your first college experience.
One unique feature of York College’s first-year support program is the presence of a peer mentor in your First-Year Seminar course and at many Common Hour events. I see some of our FYS peer mentors right here. You might have met a few of them as you were gathering over in the gym. They are known as your Fellows. Fellows, would you please rise, turn around, and wave to your new First-Year Seminar students?
You will see your FYS Fellow every day in your First-Year Seminar class. You can ask your Fellow about your FYS course, about Common Hour, about how to do college here at YCP. They are experts. They’ve been there and done that, and they can’t wait to get to know you.
You made the right choice to come to York College because we are a student-centered institution. Helping you succeed is our mission, and the primary goal of our first-year courses and programs. You matter to us, and we can’t wait to see how you will create your own Spartan success story.
We’re so excited to have you here. Welcome to York College!