As part of First-Year Seminar, students made winter care packages of gloves, hats, socks, handwarmers and ChapStick for the Rescue Mission Alliance. (Photo by Jimmy Luckman)
A wave of first-year and transfer students in the University’s First Year Seminar 101 (FYS101) recently rolled across campus and into the greater Syracuse area to actively learn about campus, the local community and how they fit into their new surroundings. More than 10,000 students in total have taken FYS101 since its inception in fall 2021; that includes more than 3,900 students this year.
The seminar’s Shared Experience Week introduces students to the University’s pillars. Activities involved Barnes Center at The Arch (mindfulness, opioid overdose prevention and sexual health programs); Intercultural Collective; Syracuse University Art Museum; La Casita; Syracuse Stage; Community Folk Art Center; IT MakerSpace; Hendricks Chapel; Bird Library and the Special Collections Resource Center; JMA Wireless Dome; Schine Student Center; National Veterans Resource Center; Blackstone LaunchPad; and WAER. Presentations were hosted by Syracuse Abroad; Career Services; Office of Financial Literacy; the Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement; and the Shaw Center for Public and Community Service.
During Week Four of the 15-week session, students enjoyed 45 types of “in real life” engagement activities. They created an impactful 780 care packages and sourced materials to benefit 13 local organizations that became new participating partners with the University, says Jimmy Luckman, associate director of the First Year Seminar. That included:
“Blessings in a Backpack” students in the Syracuse City School District received tortilla-based meals assembled by FYS101 students. (Photo by Jimmy Luckman)
FYS101 students made six blankets and helped select 882 diapers for the Sankofa Reproductive Health and Healing Center. (Photo by Jimmy Luckman)
At the Center for International Services, FYS101 students played international board games to learn more about other cultures. (Photo by Meriel Stokoe)
The Community Folk Art Center in Syracuse was the site of an interactive drumming session and a chance to learn about musical customs. (Photo by Evan Krukin)
Light Work’s Community Darkroom provided a setting for hands-on experiments in photography. (Photo by Cali Banks)
Interns at the Shaw Center introduced FYS101 students to the University hub for academic community engagement. (Photo by Dalton Dietz)
Students enjoyed a tour of Syracuse University Art Museum with Kate Holohan, curator of education and academic outreach. (Photo by Jimmy Luckman)
Another Shared Experience Week highlight: a tour of Syracuse Stage. (Photo by Becki Bruzdzinski)
Students created care packages with toothbrushes, toothpaste, soaps, sanitizer wipes, body lotions and deodorants, along with personalized notes, to donate to the food pantry at Hendricks Chapel. (Photo by Breana Nieves Vergara)
