First-Year Formation

What is First-Year Formation?

The First-Year Formation symposium is designed to assist new students with the adjustment and transition to college life at Fordham.

Sponsored by New Student Orientation and the Office for Student Involvement, First-Year Formation is an extension of the summer and fall Orientation programs. First-Year Formation promotes student engagement in the Fordham academic and co-curricular community and explores the University's distinct Jesuit mission by engaging new students from their very first days on campus. The symposium meets weekly during the fall semester and features sessions that promote skills and topics important for success at Fordham including time management and study skills in college, planning for academic and career success, exploration of personal values, and more!

The symposium consists of a small group of new students and is team-taught by a Student Affairs administrator and an upperclass student Peer Mentor who use a variety of teaching techniques including discussion, weekly reflections, and service-learning to help a small group of first-year students get the most out of their college experience.

Get "In the Know" at Fordham

Students who participate in the First-Year Formation symposium often comment on the high level of connection they feel to Fordham and that as a result of FYF, they are "in the know". FYF is an excellent course to take for students who are interested in meeting other first-year students, interacting with a student affairs professional and upperclass student leader every week during the fall semester in a small-group setting, and learning about all the resources, services and activities Fordham has to offer.

    • The course will serve as an aide for first-year students’ transition into collegiate life.
    • Students will be motivated to be active and responsible members of their community.
    • Students will be encouraged to begin the process of determining personal values and ethics.
    • Students will gain an understanding of their campus community and greater New York City community.
    • Students will be able to identify Fordham University’s distinctive mission as a Jesuit institution of higher learning.
    • Students will gain a greater insight of themselves and others.

  • Weekly Themes

    First Year Formation is a 12 week course, which will cover the following themes over the duration of the semester.

    1. Welcome & Introduction to the course
    2. Skills for Success in College
    3. Community Resources & Jesuit Values
    4. Diversity & Inclusion
    5. Career Prep

  • Service is a significant part of the Fordham experience and students often talk about the importance of "being men and women with and for others". Each FYF class will have the opportunity to participate in a service project.

  • Each semester, students participating in First Year Formation will have the opportunity to go on an excursion in New York City. These excursions, which are planned and paid for by the First Year Formation program, will introduce students to New York City and expose them to some of the great activities that can take advantage of within New York City during their time at Fordham.

    Potential excursions include:

    • Statue of Liberty / Ellis Island
    • Central Park
    • Tours of NYC neighborhoods
    • Broadway Shows

How Do I Sign Up?

In order to sign up for the FYF course, students should register the same way that they would for all other academic courses. Students should contact their advisor with any questions. 

In order to learn more about this course, please contact [email protected] or call us at 718-817-4339.