OCT 3, 2024 | NEWS | By Grant Loui
Phrases like “You know, we got to pick our FYP,” and “What, you didn’t get to choose your first semester classes?” are undoubtedly etched into the brains of first-year students who have heard about this year’s changes to the First Year Program (FYP) structure from former first-years.
For the first year since the FYP began, first-year students were not able to select any of their Fall Semester classes. A new academic interest survey was used instead of the traditional rank-choice processes.
“I am not trying to take choice away; I’m trying to create opportunity for everyone,” said FYP director Aaron Stoller.
The FYP has been a staple in new students’ introductory experiences at Colorado College since 2000, and comprises the CC100: Critical Inquiry Seminar and the CC120: The First-Year Writing Seminar.
In 2020, a new general education program was put into place and the FYP was reimagined. In 2020, 2021 and 2022 students had the ability to pick a thematic cluster of interest. In 2023 and 2024, students got to choose a handful of FYPs.
“There were problems with both of those systems. The first is that in the thematic cluster, one of the issues is the students might be very interested in history… and be put in a math class,” Stoller said.
This led to a lack of interest and preparedness among students if they did not get their first choice. The process for 2022 and 2023 had its own problems.
“Some courses would have 60 students interested in them and five or six classes that no student put in their rank,” Stoller said. “In addition to that, we found some courses [that] students of particular backgrounds would prioritize over others.”
Stoller said he felt a “middle ground” was necessary.
That middle ground was the academic interest survey, where you got to pick majors you wanted or thought were interesting. This allowed the algorithm to place you close to your intended areas of interest, while also allowing for classes to have a diverse community.
This year also marked a change for first-year students, as non-FYP for first-years first semester classes were also randomly assigned.
In years past, students would register for their classes over the summer. First-years indicated their preferences, but there was no guarantee they would get them.
The solution to this dilemma in this year’s registration was also the academic interest survey.
“The thought is that if we know what you are majoring in, it’s going to be more likely that we have the ability to put you in something that aligns with your interest,” says Stoller.
First-year students were able to change their classes. The administration anticipated this, Stoller said: “In the first Block, we held seats for all first-year students in all available classes for first-year students.” These spots, or “first-year reserved seats,” were held all of Block 1. In the instance a first-year student met with their advisor, there would be spots open for the students to swap into.
“We feel strongly at CC that course selection should be under the advisement of a faculty advisor,” Stoller said.
However, this can be challenging over the summer when the faculty advisors are not as widely available. This was done to increase access and equity.
Originally, when the FYP started in 2000, it took place in Block 1 and Block 2. However, sometimes the CC120 can take place in Blocks 2, 3 or 4 because of numbers. The FYP class is capped at 16 students. There are around 37 sections of the CC100 and 37 sections of the CC120. Over 44% of faculty are working on the FYP every year, with an emphasis on making sure experienced professors who know the Block Plan are involved according to data from Stoller.
Rodrigo Mattiol ‘28 prioritized science and psychology in his academic interest survey. His results placed him in the Crisis and Sustainability cluster with his first block CC101: Environmental Crisis & The Anthropocene in Global and World Literature.
He recalls “being surprised” at his course listing and that the course didn’t seem like something he would be especially interested in.
Originally hoping to pass the class and move on with his college career, Mattioli gained more from the Block than he was expecting.
“I came away with a lot of good takeaways,” said Mattioli.
Mattioli plans to take the next part of their FYP in Block 3. A geology course, Mattioli highlighted how he’s “looking forward to looking at rocks.” He also emphasized the importance of learning how to write at a college level, and how he hopes to acquire those skills in the next step of his college career.