To Help Students Find their Niche at Penn State
year students the large and complex university environment can be
The Division of Undergraduate Studies developed First-Year Testing,
Counseling and Advising Program (FTCAP) in order to help students
find their niche and understand the academic system, programs and
Solution: FTCAP with Electronic Workbook and Website
on, it became apparent that students focused better on the material
when they did hands-on collaborative tasks. Therefore, FTCAP shifted
from being a teacher-centered lecture to student-centered activities.
Using a FTCAP pilot group, it was discovered that students enjoy using
the electronic version of the workbook, but were bombarded with too
much information at the orientation. So, a website was created to
present information to the students before they come to FTCAP.
FTCAP orientation sessions allowed students to:
- Become familiar with the academic structure and procedures
- Understand the requirements for particular degree programs
- Familiarize themselves with the online registration process
and print resources
- Understand the rationale for constructing a schedule of classes
- Know their academic abilities in greater detail
FTCAP provides critical information about the university as well as
allowing students to learn how they fit into the new environment.
Because students are able to assess their academic abilities and interests,
they are more likely to find their academic niche sooner.
Through surveys and regular feedback from FTCAP participants, the
Division of Undergraduate Studies is able to continuously improve
the FTCAP orientation sessions. By working systematically, the FTCAP
team has been able to rethink the FTCAP program very thoroughly, but
like most instructional design projects, this is an iterative process.