The First-Year Experience (FYE)

Welcome to Grand View!

Here you will find a welcoming community that will help you transition from high school to college. We have designed engaging programming that will help you be successful personally and academically, navigate campus resources, build meaningful connections and prioritize your well-being.

First-Year Experience Philosophy

The Grand View community recognizes the first year of college as a major life transition. We care deeply for our students and believe each one has the potential to succeed. To succeed, students need to feel welcomed by a campus environment that promotes safety, self-efficacy, and belonging. Students must be engaged in early curricular and co-curricular activities to develop meaningful relationships with peers, faculty, and staff. As a student-ready institution, we are committed to supporting each student's academic progress, personal growth and maturation, and vocational discernment. Through inclusive and transparent practices, we will support, empower, and challenge students as they begin their journey towards career success, community engagement, and lifelong learning.

First-Year Experience Learning Outcomes

Throughout the year, first-year students will engage in learning experiences, student activities, and other educational opportunities to explore areas of:

Agency, Study Skills & Growth Mindset
Community & Belonging
Critical Thinking
Financial Literacy
Health & Wellness
Purpose & Vocation
Using Resources & Asking for Help

LIBA 110: Core Seminar

All first-year students enroll and complete LIBA 110 Core I Seminar as part of a common intellectual experience in the first year. Core I Seminar provides students with transition support, discussing differences between high school and college classroom expectations, familiarizing students with terminology used on Grand View’s campus, assisting students in navigation of university applications (e.g., Blackboard, email, appointment platforms, web print, etc.), connecting students with academic and campus resources, and promoting appropriate study strategies (e.g., reading, note-taking, time management, etc.). Core I Seminar also supports students’ development of essential academic skills in writing, public speaking, and information literacy.

Faculty representing a variety of academic departments and staff from across campus serve as the primary course instructors. Each section also has an assigned GV Complete Coach and campus librarian to assist with various learning experiences and assignments in the course. This teaching approach provides students a built-in support network of faculty and staff on day one.

Campus Partners

Grand View’s First-Year Experience partners with many campus offices to deliver a comprehensive, integrated experience across the first year at Grand View.

Academic Departments

First-year students often enroll in one or more introductory courses in biology, economics, math, psychology, or sociology. All first-year students will take a composition class. Professors instructing these early courses will provide appropriate learning experiences that further support the First-Year Learning Outcomes.

Below is a sample of a first-year, first semester schedule.

Fall Semester (15-16 credits)

LIBA 110: Core I Seminar – 3 credits
Math 095/096/105: Required math course – 4 or 5 credits
ENGL 100/101: Composition – 3 or 4 credits
*PSYC 101: General Psychology – 3 credits
*BIO 101 & 101L: General Biology & Lab – 4 credits

*Students interested in majors within business, human services, and/or education may take an introductory course in these areas such as ECON 101: Principles of Macroeconomics, SOCS 101: Introduction to Sociology, or EDUC 111: Introduction to Education.

**Students may enroll in a general education (Core Curriculum) course instead of one of the math, English, social science, or natural science courses.

ALT Center

The Academic Learning & Teaching (ALT) Center is an essential resource for first-year students. It provides tutoring support and one-on-one coaching for academic success skills like time management, taking notes, etc. The ALT Center is also home to the Writing Center and Math Lab. Students can stop in to utilize resources in the ALT Center, or they can make an appointment through Navigate.

Athletics

Approximately 65% of first-year students are student-athletes at Grand View. As such, intentional and frequent collaboration between the First-Year Experience, GV Complete, ALT (Academic Learning & Teaching) Center, the Athletics Success Coordinator, your coaches, and the Grand View administration is necessary to support student-athlete success. Ask your coach and the Athletics Success Coordinator about the academic scorecards, study tables, and other academic support provided through athletics.

Campus Library

Grand View librarians work closely with Core I Seminar instructors, supporting students as they learn to find, evaluate, and utilize academic sources while helping them to develop their research skills. Campus librarians will visit classrooms, and many Core I sections will host several class meetings in the library classroom, where each student has access to a computer and inclusive software programs. The Library is also a favorite study spot where students can grab a coffee and snack at Einstein’s Bros. Bagels.

Career Center

Students are encouraged to connect early with Grand View’s Career Center. In fact, many students will engage in major and career exploration experiences in Core I Seminar that focus on students’ growth and development on the NACE Career Readiness Competencies. Additional resources and support for developing resumes, practicing interview skills, and connecting with alumni and employers can be found on the Career Center webpage.

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Grand View University aspires to serve a diverse community of learners in an inclusive and equitable environment. The offices of Multicultural Affairs and Inclusive & Supportive Programs provide resources and activities to support students from diverse backgrounds as well as promote advocacy and allyship among Grand View’s campus community. A list of community partners, student organizations, and student leadership teams is available on the Multicultural Affairs web page. More information about Inclusive and Supportive Program’s Horizon Scholars and Elevate Peer Mentoring is also available online.

GV Complete

GV Completion Coaches serve as advisors for first-year students, supporting students through the transition from high school into college. They are first-year students “go to” person! In the first year, Completion Coaches help students register for classes and create a four-year academic course plan, ensuring students begin planning early for their major, general education classes, and on-time graduation. GV Complete also supports students with financial planning, beginning in the first year and continuing until graduation. The GV Complete web page includes more information on academic and financial planning.

New Student Programs

Grand View hosts New Student Orientation in June for first-year students beginning classes in the fall semester and in January for students starting in the spring semester. New Student Programs also hosts Welcome Weekend in August. During these events, current students, View Crew Leaders, guide first-year students through activities designed to meet new friends; get involved in campus life; prepare for classes; and connect with professors, staff, and resources across campus. Parents and families are also invited and encouraged to attend New Student Orientation with additional information about campus resources on the Parents & Families web page.

Residence Life

Three of Grand View's six residence halls, Knudsen and Nielsen Halls and Langrock Suites, are "home" to nearly 250 first-year students. Living on campus immerses students in the life of the university, and lounge areas in each building provide space for students to study, socialize, play games, and engage in hall programming. Take a virtual tour of Grand View's housing options to learn more.