FYE Benefits

Retention

Historically over time, FYE students have retained at a higher rate compared to non-FYE students at CU Denver 

FYE Benefits

GPA

FYE students have a higher first-semester GPA compared to their non-FYE peers

FYE Benefits

Mentorship and Support

FYE students rate their professors and PALs highly in terms of mentorship and support during their first semester 

 

The focus of the CU Denver First-Year Experiences program is specially-designed courses that provide a welcoming and supportive learning environment for our new degree-seeking students who are starting college for the first time in the fall semester. In any of the FYE courses they choose, first-year students acclimate to the rigors of college-level work, engage in the active social and intellectual life of our campus, work closely with faculty and peer leaders, and make close friends and study partners.

By extending our support beyond the classroom, we connect our new students to the university and help them navigate this new academic world.

For example, you may have trouble understanding some of the language we use, like Registrar or Bursar. It’s the lingo of higher education, our own special vocabulary, and it’s not always easy to translate! That’s why we’ve assembled a lingo cheat sheet for you to reference when you get confused.


FYE Program Component #1

Mentoring

All of our FYE courses are capped at 30 or less students and have a certified Peer Advocate Leader (PAL) assigned to each FYE course. 

FYE Program Component #2

Advising

FYE courses require all students to meet one-on-one with their academic advisor and FYE instructor to help keep them on-track their entire first year at CU Denver.

FYE Program Component #3

Activities

Getting involved is important - part of the FYE course requirement is to attend events and workshops at CU Denver. Connection helps build belonging! 

FYE Program Component #4

Workshops

Learn from experts. Our courses bring in guest speakers from across a variety of CU Denver offices to get you the resources you need! 

First-Year Experiences (FYE) Courses

So, Which FYE course(s) will you decide to take in your first semester at college? It's up to you!  You’ll choose from among three FYE program options, selecting the one that suits you best—College Success (UNIV 1110/1111/1112/2110/2111/3110), First-Year Seminar, or Learning Communities. Explore all of the choices to learn more about what each program offers and find out which one interests you the most.

Events and Workshops

In addition to our FYE and SYE classes, we host a variety of events on-campus. Check out the calendar below for our upcoming events, as well as events hosted by our campus partners!