First Year Experience
As part of the First Year Experience, new students take three specific courses as a learning community with the same small group of students.
First Year Experience
The First Year Experience is a collaborative effort of the offices of Academic Affairs and Student Affairs designed to:
- Integrate new students into Salve Regina's learning community
- Facilitate the transition from high school to college
- Promote and enhance student performance and persistence at Salve Regina
- Introduce new students to service learning as a way of life
- Teach good academic habits, skills and inquiry for lifelong learning
As part of the First Year Experience, first-year students are enrolled in a New Student Seminar (GST110) or Transfer Student Seminar (GST113) during the fall semester. In addition, students participate as members of learning communities, engage in service learning and take part in wellness events and programs throughout their first year at Salve Regina.
Learning Communities
Freshmen are grouped into small learning communities enrolled in three common courses. These courses explore themes of personal and social responsibility, as well as personal wellness and social justice.
- GST150: Seeking Wisdom
- ENG150: What it Means to be Human
- GST110: New Student Seminar (fall semester)
Learning communities provide freshmen with a common core of resources: the three instructors of the portal, literature and seminar courses, and the seminar's mentor.
Service Learning
Students participate in the Feinstein Enriching America Program in the New Student Seminar or Transfer Student Seminar by completing a minimum of 10 community service learning hours on Aquidneck Island during their first year at Salve Regina.
Wellness Model
The Wellness Model is a six-dimension visual configuration that encompasses all aspects of the mind, body and spirit of a person. Salve Regina strives to help students enhance themselves in these six areas and offer various resources and support for students in pursuit of health and personal wellness. In addition, the wellness model is integrated into the First Year Experience program to help students transition into their new academic and social environment. The First Year Experience program, in collaboration with offices around the campus, sponsors events throughout the year to promote wellness awareness and integration.
