The new Sophomore Experience program debuted Thursday evening with a dinner for the current sophomore class, along with at least one faculty member per table, in the KAV.
Associate Professor of History and Assistant Dean for General Education and Assessment Dr. Brian Newsome introduced the Sophomore Experience as a series of events throughout the year that stress “the significance of the sophomore year.”
Newsome, who is a co-director of the program, discussed opportunities such as the Majors and Minors Fair, retreats and mentoring for sophomores. “I think the program will help our sophomores either avoid or find ways to overcome the ‘sophomore slump,’ the sense that the second year is a type of rootless interim between the dynamism of the first year, when all things are new, and the dynamism of the junior and senior years, when many students are really getting into the upper level courses for their majors, studying abroad, etc.,” Newsome said. “We want to convey to sophomores that the second year is a very important time for figuring out who you are and where you want to go and planning accordingly.”
While the first-year experience program includes Induction and Convocation, no sophomore traditions were in place until “Dean [of Faculty Dr. E. Fletcher] McClellan and Dean [of Students Marianne] Calenda identified sophomore programming as a strategic need,” Newsome said.
“The ‘sophomore slump’ is a nationwide phenomenon, and we had good evidence — both qualitative and quantitative — that Elizabethtown College students were in need of a sophomore program, just like their peers at other institutions,” he continued.
“Last year we developed a proposal in collaboration with a faculty and staff committee, tested the ideas with a student focus group, modified the proposal accordingly and presented a proposal to senior staff, who agreed to fund the program,” Newsome said.
At the event, each student received a “Compass,” an Etown advising handbook that is customized to help sophomores adjust to new responsibilities and navigate sophomore year. The Compass details Student Learning Outcomes as well as tips for interacting with professors and completing the Sophomore Advising Questionnaire.
As the keynote speaker, McClellan addressed the students with anecdotes about his own search for the right career during college. There was a strong emphasis on the concept of vocation at the event, and McClellan’s speech on the topic preceded the distribution of an article on vocation as well. A closing sophomore dinner is scheduled for April 18.
