Follow Your Spark
We’re so happy you’re here. Now that you’ve started your journey, look around below to find info you need to give you a great start here at UT Southern.
First Year Experience
The faculty and staff of The University of Tennessee Southern want every student to have a successful experience and are committed to providing them with the best academic advice possible.
First-time entering freshmen are required to participate in the First Year Experience Program, which begins just before the start of the semester and continues through the term. During FYE, students are introduced to the campus community, the academic program, and student life at UT Southern.
Placement Testing
Placement testing also occurs during this time, to help identify strengths and weaknesses in prior academic training. Based on these results, students may be advised or required to take one or more courses designed to help them overcome previous academic deficiencies or accelerated to reflect academic strengths.
First-Year Experience (FYE) covers various topics to promote a successful transition to UT Southern. First-year students are mentored by their FYE instructors. The typical first-year student will enroll in 13-16 hours per semester.
We’re Here for You
The First-Year Experience courses are taught by instructors serving as their FYE students’ faculty mentors/academic advisors for their first year at UT Southern.
Generally, new first-time freshmen or transfer students are advised and may register during summer orientation. During the initial semester of enrollment, all students are assigned a faculty mentor or advisor. All students are encouraged to meet regularly with their mentor at UT Southern. Should there be a need to change advisors, students may contact the Registrar’s Office. Effective academic advising is vital to a student’s success; however, the ultimate responsibility for enrolling in appropriate classes lies with the student.
Next Steps
Every college and university does things a little differently, so regardless if you’re a recent high school graduate, you’re transferring in from another institution, or if you’re coming to us later in life, we want to make sure you have the information you’ll need to be successful here at UT Southern!
First Year Experience Mentors
Pat Ford
Coordinator of FYE, Instructor of Human Performance and Physical Education
Laura Morefield
Assistant Coordinator of FYE, Instructor of Human Performance and Physical Education
Jennifer Adam, PhD
Assistant Professor of Music
Elizabeth Badolato, PhD
Assistant Professor of English and Physics
Stanton Belford, PhD
Associate Professor of Biology
Felicia Dailey
Instructor of Nursing
Randi McElhaney
PhD
Instructor of Nursing
Brandie Paul
Head Softball Coach, Athletic Director
Claire Paul
Instructor of Education
Melissa Ryckman, PhD
Associate Professor of History
Daniel Scherr, PhD
Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice
Harli Standish
Adjunct Instructor of English
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Questions?
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Todd Jones
Director of Admissions
