Table of Contents – PAGE 1 Significant Changes – PAGE 2 What components of FYRE will remain the same? What components of FYRE are changing? Basic Information – PAGE 3 What is FYRE? What is the mission of FYRE? Who lives in FYRE? Where is the FYRE program? What are the Residence Hall “clusters?” What are the amenities within FYRE? What types of room are in FYRE residence halls? FYRE Models – PAGE 4 What are the two models guiding the FYRE program? What are the FYRE Learning Outcomes? FYRE Signature Components & Traditions – PAGE 5 What are the benefits of FYRE? What traditions exist for first-year students? How can students get involved in FYRE? Frequently Asked Questions: Table of Contents The People of FYRE – PAGE 6 What is an FYRE Associate? How does a student know who their FYRE Associate is? How are FYRE Associates assigned? Who is the Residence Director (RD)? Who is the Resident Assistant (RA)? OrgSync – PAGE 7 What is OrgSync? How do students login to OrgSync? 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 their Taskstream accounts? Is there training for how to use Taskstream? Do students need to submit FYRE reflections in their DRF/e-portfolio? If students have questions about their e-portfolios, who should they contact?

What components of FYRE will remain the same? The mission of FYRE remains the same: To provide a year-long, intentional living learning environment that eases student transitions, develops strong, active communities, and stimulates intellectual curiosity. FYRE will continue to house all first-year students together within the upper & lower quads as well as the east and west towers. FYRE will continue to offer an excellent RA-to-student ratio to ensure that each student has access to and attention from their RA year-round. FYRE will continue to partner residence hall communities with FYRE Associates to serve as resources and mentors to first-year students. FYRE will continue to provide opportunities for student leadership in the residence halls through Community Councils. FYRE will continue to offer the large-scale, tradition events like First-Year Friday and First-Bomber Weekend. Significant Changes – Page 2 What components of FYRE are changing? FYRE will organize students into floor-based cohorts instead of theme-based cohorts. This shift is in response to overwhelming feedback that students would prefer to stay connected as a floor community. FYRE will run two models concurrently. One model will emphasize events and conversations around the concept of “Engaging Perspectives” and the other model will frame conversations and events around “Community Connections.” The Engaging Perspectives events will explore the big questions posed by each of the ICC themes. The Community Connections events will explore the meaning, benefit, and responsibilities of community. With the exception of six events a year framed by these focus areas, a student's experience in FYRE will be the same. FYRE will focus on students as partners in creating and shaping their first-year experience. While Resident Assistants and FYRE Associates will still provide leadership, mentorship, and resources to first-year students, the students will be invited to participate in their community by sharing ideas, interests, and helping advise community activities.

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 that eases student transitions, develops strong, active communities, and stimulates intellectual curiosity. Who lives in FYRE? Since Fall 2014, all incoming first-year students live in FYRE. Transfer Students who have a first-year student status are also welcome in FYRE! Basic Information – Page 3 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, & Clarke (lower quads) 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 with a roommate.

What are the two models guiding the FYRE program? Model 1 – Engaging Perspectives: This model aims to develop community on the floor through an exploration of big questions posed by each of the Integrative Core Curriculum (ICC) themes. Over the course of the year, students, RAs, and FYRE Associates will work together to explore all of the ICC themes represented within the community. The ICC themes are: Identities; Inquiry, Imagination, & Innovation; Power & Justice; Quest for a Sustainable Future; Mind, Body, Spirit; and, World of Systems. Model 2 – Community Connections: This model aims to develop community on the floor through an exploration of the strengths of community members. The goal is to allow students to “choose their own adventure” and empower them to both shape and take responsibility for their community by applying their own skills and sharing their interests. We frame the importance of community and its members through strategically designed focus events that model essential community values including sustainability, community service, support of community members, community resources, understanding of current events, and the importance of participating in community or adding value to community. FYRE Models – Page 4 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 outlines the following Student Learning Outcomes. Students will be able to… …describe three resources available within the Ithaca College Community (both models) …name three responsibilities of being an active community member (both models) …describe three examples of concepts learned in class that informs their actions as community members (both models) …identify three benefits of engaging with diverse perspectives (engaging perspectives model only) …identify a strength they possess that they applied towards improving their community (community connections model only) …describe three positive practices that contribute to a sustainable community (community connections model only)

What are the benefits of FYRE? Live with other First-Year Students. Our FYRE program provides the opportunity for incoming first-year students to live with one another as a cohort and make friends. Experience an Excellent RA-to-Student Ratio. Within FYRE, students will experience a low student-Resident Assistant (RA) ratio so that they have access to and attention from their RA year round. 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 be in contact throughout the academic year, these meetings are opportunities to focus more specifically on transitional issues & opportunities to engage with the community. 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 to communities of first-year students. Shape your Community Experience. FYRE offers increased opportunities for students to have voice and involvement in shaping their community experience through engaging events with RAs and FYRE Associates. Signature Components & Traditions – Page 5 What traditions exist for first-year students? Ithaca College offers a number of annual traditions that first-year students can participate in! Convocation Community Kick-Off Theme Kick-Off First Bomber Weekend Community Council Diversity Speaker: Maura Cullen Sustainability Challenge First-Year Friday How can students get involved in FYRE? There are many ways for students to get involved with FYRE and their Residence Hall community: 1.Attend any of the events listed above! 2.Help shape the community by providing ideas or assistance in planning events for the floor or building. 3.Join a floor group/committee. 4.Join the 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. (Interested students should ask one of the Residential Life staff!) 5.Submit an FYRE reflection through Taskstream. 6.Visit IC’s Org Fair in early fall for more opportunities.

What is an FYRE Associate? An FYRE Associate is an Ithaca College faculty or staff member who is assigned to a community of students living in the residence halls. The FYRE Associate’s role is to serve as a mentor and resource to first-year students and work with students to explore roles they can take within their community. How does a student know who their FYRE Associate is? Students can find out who their FYRE Associate is many ways: (1)Attend the Community Kick-Off Event during Fall Welcome to meet your FYRE Associate. (2)Check OrgSync! OrgSync is an online portal where you can connect with other students and find out more about upcoming events. Visit: collegehttps://orgsync.com/login/ithaca- college (3)Check your ! Students will receive regular s from their FYRE Associate. (4)Check the FYRE Associate list! We list all FYRE Associates, their themes, and assigned buildings at ithaca.edu/fyre. (5)Contact Residential Life! Talk to your RA, call our office at , or The People of FYRE – Page 6 How are FYRE Associates assigned? FYRE Associates work with communities of students based on the residence hall cluster or building. In the East and West Towers, FYRE Associates are assigned to pairs of floors (the second and third floor, for example). In the upper and lower quads, FYRE Associates as assigned both wings of one floor. Who is the 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 to answer questions and provide personal/academic support. Who is the Resident Assistant (RA)? The RA is a upper-year student who lives in the floor community and offers support and guidance. The RA is an excellent resource who is available for questions and advice.

OrgSync – Page 7 What is OrgSync? OrgSync is an online portal where students can find out about events happening on each floor, in the building, cluster, and across campus! OrgSync is used to provide online support to groups (online database, common resources, event promotion & communication, etc.) at IC - we use it for student organizations and FYRE communities. How do students login to OrgSync? Students should visit: and enter their Ithaca College netpass and password.

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. Note: Students are required to complete DRF submissions for all components of the ICC, including the Ithaca Seminar. 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 and defines what responses or reflections students should contribute. Students will automatically see the DRF when they log into Taskstream. How should students access their Taskstream account? Students can access their account by logging into myHome from the Ithaca College website.myHome Taskstream, ePortfolios, & DRFs – Page 8 Where can students find additional support for their Taskstream accounts? Is there training for how to use Taskstream? Visit: or 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 at the end of each semester. If students have questions about their ePortfolios, who should they contact? For technical support, students should contact Information Technology Services: ithaca.edu/its/ or 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 or contact Jacqueline Robilotta at