The First Year at ESF

Research shows that the first months of a student's college experience are pivotal to overall success. Evolutions assists all new (commuter and residential) students with their transition and adjustment to ESF by:

• Increasing student-to-student interaction;
• Increasing faculty-to-student interaction;
• Increasing student involvement and time on campus;
• Linking the curriculum and co-curriculum; and
• Increasing expectations and levels of academic engagement.

Evolutions programs help to foster academic achievement, social integration and personal success:

• Orientation—ESF provides all new students with programs designed to facilitate a successful transition to college life and further acquaint them and their families with the ESF community.
• Transitions—New transfer students will find programming and information specific to their unique status.
• ESF 132—ESF 132 introduces students to their field of study, helps boost study skills, raises alcohol and other drugs awareness, and provides diversity awareness and training.
• Student-to-Student Mentors—This program links new first-year students to returning ESF students in a mentoring relationship.
• ESF Learning Community—Through inclusion in the ESF learning community, first year residential students enhance and integrate in- and out-of-classroom learning.
• Insomniacs—Working to create an identity and campus culture for alternative programming, the Insomniacs support students' healthy choices through safe, fun, student-driven programming,offering events and activities between the hours of 10pm and 2am (when students experience most of their "free time."

Other areas of emphasis in the Evolutions program include the following:

Community Service & Service Learning

First year students participate in community service thereby creating a stronger bond with the surrounding community.

• Community Service & Service Learning website

Student Organization Involvement

Beginning with our annual activities fair in the fall semester, first year students will be made aware of and encouraged to participate in student organizations and activities.

• Student Activities website

Alcohol & Other Drug Awareness

The Alcohol and Other Drugs Programming Action Plan sets forth ESF's expectations regarding student use of alcohol and other drugs. The College works to encourage healthy choices by creating a positive living and learning environment for students—one that does not tolerate the illegal and harmful use of alcohol and other drugs. We do this in three ways:

1. Through our campus judicial system;
2. By providing educational programs on alcohol and other drugs as well as alternative social events; and
3. By providing academic content on the implications of alcohol and other drug use.

Diversity Awareness and Training

ESF promotes and develop programs that educate all students about race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, etc., with the support of the student-to-student mentoring program, the Office of Multicultural Affairs and others.

• International Students website
• Multicultural Affairs website