Reframing the First Year Experience

Colleges and universities face a significant crisis of meaning. The declining public trust in higher education and eroding belief in the role and value of a college degree in society is the central challenge to student enrollment, retention, and completion in higher education. All other challenges – while significant and important – are secondary to this crisis of meaning. When we lead FYE programs with the why,  we empower the what’s and how’s. If students know the why of college (the first principle), they will move mountains to stay. If they have a crisis of meaning and feel disconnected from our mission and purpose, we can move mountains for them, and they will still leave. Listen in to Understanding the First Year Experience as we discuss how to start with Why within FYE programs.