First- and Second-Year Experience

The mission of the First-Year Experience (FYE) and Second-Year Experience (SYE) programs is to provide comprehensive academic and holistic support to enhance the success and engagement of first- and second-year students. Through initiatives such as the First-Year Seminar (UNIV 1100), the Sophomore Success Initiative, and the Undergraduate Teaching Fellows program, FYE and SYE deliver tailored resources to foster a smooth transition, academic persistence, and personal growth during the critical early years of college. These programs ensure students have access to the tools and support they need to thrive throughout their academic journey at NCCU.

The Sophomore Success Initiative was established to develop and implement intentional programming to meet the universal academic and social needs of sophomores.  The goal is to increase retention rates, support students' persistence and enhance their holistic experience. In collaboration with various campus partners, the programming includes a welcome back event, SophoMORE Week in both the fall and the spring semester and a SophoMORE Success Series throughout the academic year. University College is committed to supporting students as they achieve MORE (Meaningful Opportunities for Redefined Success).

The First-Year Seminar (UNIV 1100) is taught in the University College and is required of all students except those who are age 24 or older or transfer students with sophomore status (30 credits or more). This two-credit course is designed primarily to help new students successfully transition to North Carolina Central University. It introduces students to college life and helps them develop the skills necessary for their success. The course promotes scholastic attainment, the value of education, self-actualization, involvement in the campus and the local community and leadership skill development, with a focus on the mastery of study skills, writing skills, critical thinking, health and related issues. UNIV 1101 is specifically designed for Early College High Students and is taught only during the Spring semester.

The Undergraduate Teaching Fellows (UTF) program is our premier leadership development program for upper-class students.  Our UTFs have a critical role in supporting the transition and holistic development of our first-year students. The UTFs serve in a dual capacity as teaching assistants in the UNIV 1100-First Year Seminar course and mentors to the enrolled students. The UTFs will support instruction and provide mentoring, intentional engagement and support of the students assigned to them under the guidance of their UNIV 1100 instructor. They will support and mentor their assigned students during their first year at NCCU.

UTF Learning Outcomes:
The UTFs will gain:

• An understanding of the structure and staging of the course through their work with the instructor
• The ability to explain concepts, skills or techniques to others on a one-on-one basis via presentations or facilitate classroom discussion
• The knowledge to create and deliver course assignments that forward the learning goals of the class in consultation with the instructor
• The ability to deliver critical responses to work in a supportive manner
• The ability to understand the assessment of individual students' work
• The ability to deliver technical/skills support for students enrolled in the courses on a one-on-one basis via demonstrations

The requirements to be considered for a UTF are outlined below:

1. Must have earned an A or a B in the UNIV 1100 course
2. Must have a minimum 2.7 GPA
3. Must not have a judicial case with the Dean of Students. This experience includes earning community service hours as well as credit for a certified internship program with the Office of Career and Professional Development. Applications for each academic year are available each March.

The Tackling Academic Learning Opportunities for New Scholars (TALONS) series is designed to equip students enrolled at NCCU with the knowledge, skills and tools to successfully navigate their collegiate experience and ensure that they are ready to be competitive in a global society.  Session topics are chosen based upon the feedback received from student surveys and sessions held during their summer orientation and from observations made through interactions with the students.  For the students’ convenience, sessions are offered during the 10:40 a.m. break and at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.