First-Year Programs

Group photo of First Year Experience participants

Our Mission

First-Year Programs is committed to assist new students in achieving a successful transition to Missouri State University’s community of scholars.

This mission is realized through the following means:

  • Promoting a deeper understanding of the Public Affairs Mission and its wider societal impact through a critical analysis of a common reader
  • Helping students build the necessary skills to be academically successful
  • Assisting students to establish campus connections and form a supportive network of faculty, staff, and other students
  • Developing ethical leaders and positive role models through the Peer Leader program
  • Offering professional development opportunities for instructors to collaborate and enhance their pedagogical skills

Through the administration of GEP 101: First-Year Foundations, Peer Leader program, and instructor professional development, First-Year Programs serves as an academic cornerstone to assist students in attaining the University’s guiding purpose, which is “to develop educated persons.”

Our Courses

GEP 101

GEP 101 is an integrative and interdisciplinary experience which addresses public affairs issues and individual choices promoting academic success.

IDS 310

IDS 310 is required for students who are selected as Peer Leaders. Trained Peer Leaders work collaboratively with GEP 101 Instructors to serve as role models, assist with class activities and teaching, develop positive relationships with new students, and serve as resources for informing students about campus activities and services.

Resources

Dates to Remember

Fall 2016 Instructor and Peer Leader Recruitment: We are fully staffed for Fall 2016. Please check back in January, 2017, for fall 2017 opportunities.

 

 

Sharing Information with GEP 101 Instructors and Students Policy

Due to the volume of information sharing requests targeting GEP 101 instructors and students, the First-Year Programs Department asks you to submit information to firstyearprograms
@missouristate.edu no later than Monday of the week to be distributed in our Friday instructor updates. Note: FYP cannot guarantee all information will be shared, and it is prioritized to align with course learning goals and relevance to first-year students. If you wish to distribute a flyer we request you submit a PDF format; preferably in a smaller file size (e.g., less than 1 MB). Thank you for your cooperation, as this helps us manage the flow of information to our instructors.