February 2, 2012
First-year experience committee
Every year a Hamilton committee meets to discuss the first-years’ experience at Hamilton, discussing everything from orientation activities on alcohol to possible first-year only seminars. On Monday, Senior Associate Dean of Students for Strategic Initiatives Margaret Bonham and Assistant Dean of Students for Residential Life Travis Hill met with Student Assembly to get a student perspective on a few questions: What is the biggest problem first-years face? To what extent would first-year housing and seminars address these problems? And are there any other College-wide initiatives that may help?
Student Assembly discussed some difficulties in adapting to college life; academic stress, a difficulty understanding plagiarism, meeting upperclassmen, knowledge of alcohol-free events and the importance of understanding responsible drinking. They also generally agreed that the current first-year housing system works well. Students who lived in dorms with mixed class years enjoyed meeting upperclassmen and getting to know their floor, while those who lived in all-first-year dorms enjoyed bonding with their year. The idea of having seminars for first-years was also looked at, and while many considered them a good idea, worries about restricting Hamilton’s open curriculum and shutting upperclassmen out of classes were also discussed.
When asked for new Campus-wide changes, students offered many suggestions. Some wished they had a closer relationship with their first-year advisors while others felt that their advisor was not well equipped to give academic advice for other departments. One student recommended having advisors lead first-year seminars to create a stronger bond between the faculty and advisees. Another student said that a system to arrange upperclassmen to advise first-years on some academic choices. Perhaps the most important issue discussed was how to assist the transition to college and a first-year collaboration on a semester long project may increase their sense of belonging. A senior representative, recalling a system used at Oxford, suggested instituting “college moms and dads,” two upperclassmen paired with a group of first-years to give advice, comfort, and maybe take them to dinner.