Transcript What is FYRE? - Ithaca College
Frequently Asked Questions: Table of Contents
Table of Contents – PAGE 1 FYRE Context – PAGE 2
What is FYRE? What is the mission of FYRE? Who lives in FYRE?
When did FYRE begin?
Where is the FYRE program? What are the Residence Hall “clusters?” What are the FYRE Learning Outcomes?
FYRE Benefits – PAGE 3
What are the benefits of FYRE?
What are the amenities within FYRE?
What types of rooms are in the FYRE residence halls?
How can students get involved in FYRE?
The People of FYRE – PAGE 4
What is an FYRE Associate?
Who is my FYRE Associate?
Who is my Residence Director (RD)?
What is the difference between a “floor” and “theme” RA?
How are FYRE Associates & Theme RAs assigned?
The Integrative Core Curriculum (ICC) – PAGE 5
What are the Integrative Core Curriculum (ICC) Themes?
Where can students find out which theme they are in?
How do students declare their theme?
How do students switch their theme?
What are the ICC requirements? What is the difference between the ICC and FYRE?
Theme Events & Attendance Expectations – PAGE 6
What is a theme program/event?
How do students find out about FYRE theme events?
What are students expected to do in FYRE? Can a student attend programs in a different residence hall cluster or within a different ICC theme?
OrgSync – PAGE 7
What is OrgSync?
How do I login?
Taskstream, ePortfolios, & DRFs – PAGE 8
What is Taskstream?
What is an electronic learning portfolio or ePortfolio?
What is a Directed Response Folio (DRF)?
How should students access their Taskstream account?
Where can students find support for Taskstream? Do students need to submit FYRE reflections in their DRF?
If students have questions about their ePortfolios, who should they contact?
FYRE Context – Page 2
What is FYRE?
FYRE stands for the “First-Year Residential Experience.” FYRE is an educational community experience for all students living in first year residence halls.
What is the mission of FYRE?
The mission of FYRE is to provide a year-long, intentional living learning environment where first-year students can make a successful transition to the Ithaca College Community.
Who lives in FYRE?
All incoming first-year students live in FYRE beginning in Fall 2014. Transfer Students who have a first-year student status are also welcome in FYRE!
When did FYRE begin?
FYRE has been at Ithaca College for quite some time. 2013-14 was the first academic year it existed in connection with the Integrative Core Curriculum (ICC) and 2014-15 is the first time FYRE will include the entire, incoming first-year class.
Where is the FYRE program? What are the Residence Hall “clusters?”
FYRE is located in six Residence Hall “Clusters” (or groups of residence hall buildings): 1. East Tower 2. West Tower 3. Boothroyd, Rowland, & Tallcott (upper quads) 4. Hilliard, Holmes, & Hood (upper quads) 5. Eastman & Lyon (lower quads) 6. Landon & Bogart (lower quads)
What are the FYRE Learning Outcomes?
At Ithaca College, we hope students achieve a set of learning outcomes through a combination of interactive learning experiences during the course of their first year. Specifically, the FYRE program strives to contribute to the following student learning outcomes: 1. Have meaningful interactions with peers, faculty, and staff in and outside of the classroom.
2. Achieve academic success in the first year of college.
3. Engage diverse and competing perspectives as a resource for learning, citizenship, and work. 4. Understand how to lead healthy and sustainable lifestyles.
FYRE Benefits – Page 3
What are the benefits of FYRE?
Live with other First-Year Students. The FYRE program provides the opportunity for incoming first-year students to live with one another as a cohort and benefit from the community.
Experience an Excellent RA to Student Ratio. Students living in FYRE have personalized attention, guidance, and mentorship from a highly-selective and highly-trained group of upper division student leaders at a ratio of about 1:22.
Have Structured Points of Contact with your RA. We guarantee at least three structured points of contact between each student and their RA. While students and RAs will touch base informally throughout the academic year, these meetings are opportunities to focus more specifically on transitional issues & academic goals. Benefit from FYRE Associates. The FYRE program boasts an impressive group of Ithaca College Faculty & Staff (FYRE Associates) who serve as resources, mentors, and guides for a first-year student’s theme exploration and transition to IC.
Connect (even more) with your ICC Theme. Every incoming student at Ithaca College selects an ICC theme to explore during the course of their undergraduate career. This exploration occurs both in and outside of class through carefully planned FYRE Theme Events hosted by FYRE Associates and RAs.
What are the amenities within FYRE?
All FYRE halls have one or more floor social lounges, a TV lounge, laundry facilities, and a kitchen/kitchenette. See the list of all amenities by residence hall in our Residential Life Guide: ithaca.edu/reslife/guide/amenities
What types of rooms are in FYRE residence halls?
Students living in FYRE have the opportunity for two different housing options. Students can elect to live in a single room where they can have privacy when they want to, but be surrounded by their first-year friends, or choose to live in a traditional double room.
How can students get involved in FYRE?
There are many ways for students to get involved with FYRE and their Residence Hall community:
1. Participate in the Labor Day Weekend events 2. Attend Theme Events
3. Join your Residence Hall Cluster’s First-Year Council (Each FYRE hall has a First-Year Council that serves as a leadership and activity planning group for the community. If you are interested, ask one of the Residential Life staff at check in!)
4. Visit IC’s Org Fair in early fall for more opportunities
The People of FYRE – Page 4
What is an FYRE Associate?
An FYRE Associate is an Ithaca College faculty or staff member who is assigned by theme to a group of students living in a particular residential area. The FYRE Associate’s role is to serve as a mentor and resource to First-Year students in addition to planning fun & educational events connected to the ICC themes.
Who is my FYRE Associate?
You can find out who your FYRE Associate is many ways: (1) Check OrgSync! OrgSync is an online portal where you can connect with other students in your ICC Theme and find out more about upcoming Theme Events. Visit: https://orgsync.com/login/ithaca-college (2) Check your email! All students receive regular emails from their FYRE Associate, Theme RA, and the FYRE program. (3) Check the FYRE Associate list! We list all FYRE Associates, their themes, and assigned buildings at ithaca.edu/fyre. (4) Contact Residential Life! Talk to your RA, call our office at 607 274-3141, or email [email protected]
Who is my Residence Director (RD)?
The RD is a full-time professional staff member who lives in the residence halls and supervises the RA staff team. The RD is a resource who is available for your questions and personal/academic support.
What is the difference between a “floor” and “theme” RA?
A floor RA is a student leader who is responsible for a community of residents that live on a common floor. A Theme RA similarly has a floor of students they are responsible for, but also helps host theme programs with the FYRE Associate. In most cases, the Theme RA and Floor RA are two different student leaders; but, it can be the same person.
How are FYRE Associates and Theme RAs assigned?
Every first-year student in FYRE has both an ICC theme and an FYRE residence hall assignment. Based on where a student lives and what theme they have chosen at orientation, the Office of Residential Life assigns an FYRE Associate and 1-3 RAs to work with a group of students. For example, all students living in the West Tower who are part of the Mind, Body, Spirit theme work with an FYRE Associate and a couple RAs who serve as mentors, educational programmers, resources, and guides for students’ theme exploration outside of class.
The Integrative Core Curriculum (ICC) – Page 5
What are the Integrative Core Curriculum (ICC) Themes?
• • • • • • Identities Inquiry, Imagination, & Innovation Mind, Body, Spirit The Quest for a Sustainable Future A World of Systems Power and Justice (Triple I) (Questers)
Where can students find out which theme they are in?
If students do not know their theme, they should check their degree evaluation.
How do students declare their theme?
Visit: ithaca.edu/registrar/students/icctheme/
How do students switch their theme?
Students who wish to change their declared ICC theme should go to ithaca.edu/registrar/students/icctheme/ and complete a new theme declaration form. Students who wish to talk about potential theme changes can make an appointment with their academic advisor or with the Academic Advising Center (ithaca.edu/advising).
What are the ICC requirements? What is the difference between students’ themes and their seminars?
The link below will take you to an overview of the ICC requirements in their entirety. For detailed information about each requirement see the additional information sections (e.g. themes, diversity, writing) linked from the ICC Quick Summary page: ithaca.edu/icc/iccquicksummary
What is the difference between the ICC and FYRE?
The ICC is a set of liberal arts requirements that comprise the common academic experience for all IC students. Students must complete their ICC requirements to graduate. For an overview of the ICC requirements, visit: ithaca.edu/icc FYRE is a residential experience designed to help first-year students further explore their ICC theme and develop connections with peers/staff/faculty. Students must live on campus as a first-year student but do not have any academic or graduation requirements attached to their participation in FYRE.
Theme Events & Attendance Expectations – Page 6
What is a theme program/event?
A Theme Event is an event hosted by an FYRE Associate and theme RA. These are community-based, educational programs that directly connect with a student’s ICC theme and the learning outcomes associated with FYRE. In every FYRE residence hall cluster, FYRE Associates and theme RAs host a total of eight (8) Theme Events within each of the six ICC themes. That means, minimally, 48 theme events are hosted in each of the six FYRE residence hall clusters each year. Over the course of an academic year, that’s about 300 Theme Events hosted for first-year students by Ithaca College Faculty & Staff.
How do students find out about FYRE Theme Events?
All FYRE Theme Programs are advertised as follows: 1) Email directly to the student from the FYRE Associate, Theme RA, and/or FYRE 2) OrgSync calendar & notifications 3) Program flyers within the residence halls 4) On the FYRE event website: ithaca.edu/reslife/specialty/firstyear/events/ Some programs are also advertised through Facebook. Additionally, students can always talk to their RA, email [email protected]
, or call Residential Life at 607-274-3141 with questions.
What are students expected to do in FYRE? How many theme programs are students supposed to attend? What happens if students do not go to a theme program?
We encourage students to participate in as many opportunities within FYRE as possible. Minimally, we encourage students to: • • • Attend two Theme Events per semester Document at least one Theme Event experience in their ePortfolio Meet with their RA three times during the year If a student chooses not to participate in FYRE, a staff member from Residential Life will follow up to encourage future participation. There is no penalty for not participating.
Can a student attend programs in a different residence hall cluster or within a different ICC theme?
Yes! We do encourage students to attend programs hosted by their FYRE Associate and Theme RA because a big part of FYRE is developing a relationship with those Ithaca Faculty and Staff members; however, we know that sometimes these events won’t fit a student’s schedule and therefore welcome any first-year student at any theme program.
OrgSync – Page 7
What is OrgSync?
OrgSync is an online portal where you can find out about Theme Events, helpful resources, and connect with other students in your ICC theme. OrgSync is used to manage groups and, at IC, we use it for student organizations and ICC theme groups.
How do I login?
Visit: https://orgsync.com/login/ithaca-college College netpass and password and enter your Ithaca
Taskstream, ePortfolios, & DRFs – Page 8
What is Taskstream?
Taskstream is a software platform used by Ithaca College for student ePortfolios and program assessment. Both ePortfolios and Directed Response Folios (DRFs) are housed on this system.
What is an electronic learning portfolio or ePortfolio?
An electronic learning portfolio is an online collection of student work that may be used for assessment, demonstrating accomplishments, learning, and reflection. For the ICC, all students will complete an electronic learning portfolio that includes both work samples and reflections on that work.
What is a Directed Response Folio (DRF)?
DRFs, or Directed Response Folios, are structured ePortfolios. Unlike an ePortfolio where students can personalize all the information they include, a DRF is structured by Ithaca Faculty or Staff who define what responses or reflections students should contribute. Students who are enrolled in programs using a DRF (e.g. the ICC & Education majors) will automatically see the DRF when they log into Taskstream.
How should students access their Taskstream account [to create ePortfolios and submit contributions to the DRF]?
Students can access their account by logging into myHome the Ithaca College website. from
Where can students find additional support for their Taskstream accounts? Is there training for how to use Taskstream?
Visit: ithaca.edu
/its/traindoc/coursemanage/taskstream/
Do students need to submit FYRE reflections in their DRF/ePortfolio?
There is no requirement for students to contribute submissions about FYRE to their DRF/ePortfolio. However, we do encourage students to reflect on at least one FYRE experience through taskstream by the end of their first year. Note: Students are required to complete DRF submissions for the Ithaca Seminar beginning in fall 2013.
If students have questions about their ePortfolios, who should they contact?
For technical support, students should contact Information Technology Services: ithaca.edu/its/ or 607-274-1000 For support with content for the ICC DRF, students should speak with their Ithaca Seminar Faculty member.
For support with content for the FYRE DRF, students should email [email protected]
or contact their Residence Director.