Freshman Intensive StudiesFreshman Intensive Studies"A Unique Freshman Experience for Motivated Students!""A Unique Freshman Experience for Motivated Students!"

Information Session Information Session

2014-20152014-2015

Goals of Today’s ProgramGoals of Today’s Program

To learn about the FIS program and To learn about the FIS program and its academic requirementsits academic requirements

To answer questions about the To answer questions about the program content and deliveryprogram content and delivery

To help you determine if FIS is right To help you determine if FIS is right for youfor you

What is FIS?What is FIS?

A provisional admissions A provisional admissions program for students with the program for students with the potential to succeed in college, potential to succeed in college, providing highly structured providing highly structured academic support during a academic support during a student’s first year at FDUstudent’s first year at FDU

FIS is not….FIS is not…. A program for students whose learning disabilities A program for students whose learning disabilities

require the specialized services provided by the require the specialized services provided by the Regional Center for LD studentsRegional Center for LD students—(ex. Accommodations —(ex. Accommodations requiring more than extended time for tests)requiring more than extended time for tests)

A program for students who are not fully committed A program for students who are not fully committed to academic achievement.to academic achievement.

A program with different academic standards and A program with different academic standards and expectations than the rest of the university.expectations than the rest of the university.

A Pre-College program. The “FIS Difference” is in A Pre-College program. The “FIS Difference” is in the additional support that the program provides.the additional support that the program provides.

History of FISHistory of FIS

Began in 1984 at the College at Began in 1984 at the College at FlorhamFlorham

Over 1700 students have come Over 1700 students have come through the FIS program in the past through the FIS program in the past 30 years30 years

The FIS Academic ProgramThe FIS Academic Program All students enter as Undeclared, regardless of their All students enter as Undeclared, regardless of their

intended major at the time of applicationintended major at the time of application A reduced credit load during the first semesterA reduced credit load during the first semester FIS-supported courses in disciplines such as FIS-supported courses in disciplines such as

English, Math, Political Science, Psychology, English, Math, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, and HistorySociology, and History

An additional hour of supplemental instruction An additional hour of supplemental instruction weekly in FIS-supported coursesweekly in FIS-supported courses

Mandatory and Optional Individual and Group Mandatory and Optional Individual and Group Learning Assistance, Study Groups and Academic Learning Assistance, Study Groups and Academic Skills WorkshopsSkills Workshops

Early Assessment and Midterm Grade ReportingEarly Assessment and Midterm Grade Reporting

Additional Highlights of the FIS Additional Highlights of the FIS ProgramProgram

A first-year grant to assist students in A first-year grant to assist students in tuition costs during their freshman tuition costs during their freshman year year

Annual renewable grant (sophomore, Annual renewable grant (sophomore, junior, and senior year) for students junior, and senior year) for students who successfully complete the FIS who successfully complete the FIS program and maintain satisfactory program and maintain satisfactory academic progressacademic progress

Special Features of the FIS Special Features of the FIS ProgramProgram

Close collaboration between FIS faculty and staffClose collaboration between FIS faculty and staff Comprehensive Academic AdvisingComprehensive Academic Advising Academic/Personal Skills Development and Study Academic/Personal Skills Development and Study

Strategies provided by the FIS Learning SpecialistsStrategies provided by the FIS Learning Specialists One-on-one learning assistance, study groups, and One-on-one learning assistance, study groups, and

workshopsworkshops FIS-only Freshman SeminarsFIS-only Freshman Seminars Small class sizeSmall class size Learning Communities and Honors OpportunitiesLearning Communities and Honors Opportunities

Freshman Intensive StudiesFreshman Intensive Studies

A program for freshmen who want to be…A program for freshmen who want to be…

F F irst irst

II n n

SS uccess uccess

Frequently Asked QuestionsFrequently Asked Questions What is the difference between FIS and the Regional What is the difference between FIS and the Regional

Center?Center?

FISFIS Regional CenterRegional CenterOne-Year ProgramOne-Year Program Four-Year ProgramFour-Year Program

85-90 new students each 85-90 new students each yearyear

30 new students each year30 new students each year

Support Services provided as Support Services provided as needed; Learning Specialist needed; Learning Specialist provides general academic provides general academic skills development skills development (Learning HOW to be a college (Learning HOW to be a college

student)student)

4 hours of required structured 4 hours of required structured support each week, including support each week, including 30 minutes of academic 30 minutes of academic counseling; Learning counseling; Learning Disabilities Specialists provide Disabilities Specialists provide strategies which directly strategies which directly address a diagnosed learning address a diagnosed learning disabilitydisability

Student to Staff Ratio of ~ Student to Staff Ratio of ~ 30:130:1

Student to Staff Ratio of 4:1Student to Staff Ratio of 4:1

Students register with all Students register with all other freshmenother freshmen

Students given priority Students given priority registrationregistration

Is FIS strictly a remedial program?Is FIS strictly a remedial program?

No. All FDU students (FIS and non-No. All FDU students (FIS and non-FIS) are placed into English, Math FIS) are placed into English, Math and Reading courses based upon and Reading courses based upon university guidelines. university guidelines. AnyAny student student needing developmental course work needing developmental course work in a specific area will receive it in a specific area will receive it during their freshman year. during their freshman year.

What grades must I earn to What grades must I earn to continue my studies at FDU?continue my studies at FDU?

All FDU students are expected to earn at least a All FDU students are expected to earn at least a 2.0 grade point average ("C") each semester.2.0 grade point average ("C") each semester.

Students are placed on FIS Academic Alert at midsemester Students are placed on FIS Academic Alert at midsemester if their GPA falls below a 2.0. Students on alert are if their GPA falls below a 2.0. Students on alert are expected to meet with an FIS advisor to assist them in expected to meet with an FIS advisor to assist them in devising an action plan for improvement. devising an action plan for improvement.

If the cumulative GPA is below a 2.0 at the end of the If the cumulative GPA is below a 2.0 at the end of the freshman year, the student is subject to suspension from freshman year, the student is subject to suspension from the university. the university.

2.0

What is the retention rate of What is the retention rate of students in the FIS program?students in the FIS program?

University retention rate (~74%)University retention rate (~74%)

FIS retention rate since 2006 (75-FIS retention rate since 2006 (75-79%)79%)

Will FIS students be able Will FIS students be able to graduate in four years?to graduate in four years?

Fall SemesterFall Semester Winter Winter

SessionSessionSpring Spring SemesterSemester

Summer 1 Summer 1 (optional)(optional)

10-14 10-14 credits credits earned *earned *

Not Not PermittedPermitted 12-16 12-16

credits credits earned **earned **

6 credits 6 credits earnedearned

* Based upon the number of pre-requisite courses required, if any.

Students can earn between 28-36 credits during their first year; students with 32 credits are considered sophomores.

** Credit limits determined based upon fall semester academic performance.

Can I receive need-based Can I receive need-based financial aid as an FIS financial aid as an FIS

student?student?

YES! All courses taken during the FIS YES! All courses taken during the FIS year meet federal and state year meet federal and state guidelines for financial aid.guidelines for financial aid.

What if I have What if I have questions…?questions…?

AdmissionsAdmissions 973-443-8911 (Mr. Jake Norton) 973-443-8911 (Mr. Jake Norton)For questions related to Paperwork, Document For questions related to Paperwork, Document Submission, Transcripts, Prior College Credits, Submission, Transcripts, Prior College Credits, Test Scores, Admissions Decision timeframesTest Scores, Admissions Decision timeframes

Student Life 973-443-8582 (Ms. Christine Student Life 973-443-8582 (Ms. Christine Gaydos)Gaydos)For questions related to New Student For questions related to New Student Orientation during the summerOrientation during the summer

FISFIS 973-443-8715 (Ms. Mary Ford) 973-443-8715 (Ms. Mary Ford)For questions related to the FIS academic For questions related to the FIS academic program and structureprogram and structure

FIS Web site: FIS Web site: www.fdu.edu/fis

Final Thoughts….Final Thoughts….

““Knowing is not Knowing is not enough; we must apply. enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; Willing is not enough; we must do.”we must do.”

--Johann Wolfgang von Goethe--Johann Wolfgang von Goethe