The whole freshman experience at Missouri Southern is about to change.

This time last year, a group called the Self-Studies Steering Committee, comprised of faculty, administrators and professionals looked into bettering the programs on campus for incoming freshmen, using a model Foundations of Excellence in the First Year of College. Seven sub-committees were formed to review all freshman activity, including handing out surveys to first-year students, faculty and staff, and reviewing student records. Based on their findings, these committees made 23 recommendations of changes needed. According to Dr. Betsy Griffin, assistant vice president of academic affairs, said most of these recommendations will be put in effect, not only to better the school, but to meet the standards of accreditation for a Higher Learning Institution.

The first area to be changed will be Freshman Orientation class, where the most freshmen are in a common place at once.

Currently the class is eight weeks long, and taught by trained students. The course includes educating incoming freshmen on things like the layout of the campus, issues about living away from home, time management, alcohol, and STDs.

Krista Guilford, senior speech communication major who taught a Freshman Orientation class for two semesters, said that teaching the class gives students critical organizational and leadership skills.

While Griffin said that this is fairly typical for a Freshman Orientation class, it is not as good as it could be. The plans to change the class include extending the length to a full semester, and having faculty team up with the student teachers. The content of the class will also move toward more academics, including more reading assignments and utilizing the library resources.

Guilford said the extension of the class to a full semester is a good idea.

“Each time I taught the class I felt rushed. I couldn’t teach the material, it was basically ‘this is what it is,'” Guilford said.

While most faculty members care about the students and want them to do well, one challenge will be getting enough faculty excited about teaching the class. The committee plans to implement the changes in a way that will make the faculty interested and feel that it is a worthwhile undertaking.

The changes in Freshman Orientation may be piloted next semester, but Griffin said more realistically they will take effect in the Fall 2007 semester.

Other changes that should be taking place within the next two or three years to help freshmen include more training for advisers in every department, and more encouraged co-curricular activities, including an official transcript of these activities.

To view the entire report on the findings of the committee, log onto http://www.mssu.edu/selfstudy/projectreports.htm.