First Year Experience

Starting before you arrive . . .

Arriving . . .

The Experience . . .

The University of San Diego’s first year experience strives to build a community of engaged student learners who value academic excellence, intellectual, personal and spiritual development, inclusion, ethical conduct, and compassionate service. It integrates two core components: the Preceptorial Program and the Residence Life living and learning environment.

The first year of college at the University of San Diego begins at the point of an undergraduate student’s admission to USD and concludes at the beginning of the following academic year. The University assigns a high priority to a student’s first year of college because the first year establishes an essential foundation for a successful educational and developmental experience. During the first year, students learn about the University’s mission, core values and expectations. As a result, students begin to practice the habits and skills of higher learning, thus helping shape the academic and social climate on campus.

Specific learning outcomes for the first year include the following:

Academic Excellence

• Understand the goals and purpose of a liberal arts education
• Move toward independent learning and critical thinking
• Practice effective study and time management skills for various disciplines
• Identify academic support resources and utilize them effectively

Diversity and Inclusion

• Develop a basic awareness of individual and cultural differences and similarities
• Recognize and challenge stereotypes and prejudice
• Interact with individuals with different cultural backgrounds in a respectful manner

Spirituality

• Critically reflect on and refine one’s faith, beliefs, and values
• Incorporate one’s beliefs and values into decision-making and behavior
• Expand understanding of different faith traditions
• Participate in the University’s Mission to serve with compassion, foster peace, and work for social justice

Leadership and Service

• Take initiative to positively influence the common good
• Take initiative to address conflicts and problems as they arise
• Learn about opportunities for involvement on and off-campus
• Take initiative to uphold an environment of ethical conduct and academic integrity

Responsibility for Self and Community

• Learn and comply with USD Student Code of Rights and Responsibilities and relevant local, state, federal and international laws
• Make appropriate choices regarding personal and community safety
• Recognize impact of one’s actions on the community
• Accept responsibility for behavior

Interpersonal Competence

• Interact respectfully and effectively with faculty, staff and administrators
• Collaborate effectively with others to accomplish common goals
• Resolve conflicts in a rational and respectful manner
• Establish and sustain positive relationships with members of the same and opposite sex

Wellness

• Identify and manage stress and the demands of a new environment
• Make healthy choices regarding physical and mental well-being, fitness, nutrition and the use of alcohol and other drugs
• Recognize, manage and express emotions appropriately
• Identify and effectively utilize wellness resources on campus

Specific learning outcomes are matched with experiences common to all first year students and include the following:

• Students participate in a brief orientation program prior to the start of classes
• Students participate in an ongoing orientation throughout the first year
• Students connect with a faculty advisor who assists students in planning a cohesive and productive program of study
• Students participate in a Preceptorial class
• Students participate in the Core Curriculum
• Students connect with a successful continuing student
• Students begin to develop a USD Student Learning and Development Transcript
• Students participate in a service activity
• Students attend a USD sporting event
• Students attend a cultural event on campus
• Students visit a San Diego landmark (e.g. Balboa Park, Birch Aquarium at Scripps, Cabrillo National Monument, Old Globe Theater, Old Town, San Diego Mission, San Diego Zoo, San Diego Wild Animal Park, Sea World, Petco Park)