West Virginia University was one of 19 four-year institutions recently selected to participate in the national higher education project known as Foundations of Excellence in the First College Year, WVU officials have announced.

The project involves a comprehensive, one-year self-study to evaluate programs and services that focus on student learning and success during the freshman year. It is sponsored by the Policy Center on the First Year of College, a nonprofit higher education research/policy center established in 1999 and supported by the Lumina Foundation for Education and Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation.

The goal is a plan that enhances the First-Year Experience WVU s package of programming (academic support services, outstanding faculty mentoring and innovative student life programs) for students making the transition from high school to college, according to Cheryl Torsney, associate provost for academic programs.

Since the national project began in 2003, more than 300 two- and four-year colleges and universities have taken part either in developing the model and/or completing the self-study process. Former participants report that their involvement with the Foundations of Excellence has led to enrollment and retention gain, increased campus awareness of the importance of the first year in college and more faculty buy-in for first-year efforts, Torsney noted.

The WVU self-study is assigned to nine groups of faculty, staff and students, with each group becoming expert on one area, ordimension,of the study. These dimensions include philosophy, organization, learning, faculty, transitions, students, diversity, roles and purposes, and improvement.

The success of the projecta joint endeavor of Academic and Student Affairslargely depends on strong participation, said Robin Jones, associate dean of students for WVU s First-Year Experience. Faculty and staff will be asked to take an online survey at the end of this month and students at the end of the fall semester.

Ultimately, whether you teach freshmen or graduate studentsstudents in med school or engineering or anything else on campusthe freshman class is important to everybody,Jones said.The idea behind this is that we have total buy-in from the entire University communityfaculty, staff and students.

Its the first time a lot of people are examining what we mean by the First-Year Experience,she added.It begins with New Student Orientation and freshman convocation and continues with Welcome Week and advising. Also, the First-Year Experience Web site (www.wvu.edu/~fye/) is a great resource for parents who can look and see the opportunities available for their students.

Torsney said the results of the surveys will be used to evaluate WVU s First-Year Experience, and the University expects to have a plan in place to further enhance its programs and services by July 2007.

For more information about Foundations of Excellence, go towww.fyfoundations.org.