March 5, 2021
At Assumption University, we recognize that the first year is a critical, transitional time. I work with first-year students to support their academic success through COMPASS Orientation, Assumption’s First-Year Experience, and by connecting them with faculty advisors and support staff.
COMPASS (Common Pursuit of Academic and Social Success)
All members of the Class of 2025 will begin their first year through Assumption’s First Year Experience, COMPASS, which is designed to offer new students the tools and instruction they need to find their way to academic and social success. There are two parts to COMPASS. The first is a learning community where students share two classes with the same small group of 18 to 22 fellow students in the fall. Learning communities help students to make the kinds of social connections that allow them to feel more comfortable in the classroom, resulting in a more engaging environment where they can ask questions and interact meaningfully with their peers and professors. Skills-building workshops are the second component to COMPASS. The workshops provide students timely guidance on key topics like developing effective study skills, balancing academics and social commitments, choosing appropriate courses for the spring and managing stress. The workshops are co-facilitated by faculty or a staff member and upperclassmen so that students have direct access to support staff and upperclassmen regularly throughout the semester.
COMPASS Orientation
A student’s introduction to the academic and co-curricular life at Assumption begins during the virtual Orientation Program taking place in June. Students are given the “COMPASS Reading” and participate in a class discussion to provide a sense of what they can expect from their classes in the fall. As students send in their enrollment deposits and registration becomes available, they will be able to register for Orientation through their Admitted Student Portal.
Individual Faculty Advisors
Each student will complete an online Advising Survey, including COMPASS preferences and a personal essay, so that an appropriate faculty advisor may be assigned based on the student’s academic and co-curricular interests. At Assumption, advisors are typically full-time faculty members who guide students throughout their university journey. The advisor reviews the Core Curriculum requirements, as well as the major and minor courses of study to help determine the appropriate academic path for each student. All students will meet one-on-one with a faculty advisor during COMPASS Orientation program for 40 minutes. This meeting gives the student and faculty member the opportunity to discuss interests and goals and choose appropriate classes for the first semester.
All students are invited to meet with their advisors as often as they choose. Advisors typically schedule appointments with first-year students at mid-term to review their Mid-Semester Progress Reports, and again during the advising and registration period for spring semester. The Mid-Semester Progress Reports provide students with a sense of where they stand, and this information helps in the advising process for second semester. At Assumption, there is a deep commitment to personal interaction among faculty and students, which promotes academic success and excellence. Faculty hold six office hours per week so students can ask questions, discuss ideas or obtain additional assistance. Assumption is committed to working closely with your child in an environment where intellectual pursuits and engagement in academic inquiry are important predictors of college success.
The Summer Bridge
After COMPASS Orientation, students will get acquainted with their COMPASS learning community members through Brightspace, an online learning platform used in many classes. They’ll familiarize themselves with Brightspace while responding to questions about the COMPASS reading and getting to know their peers online.
August Orientation
First-year students move in to their residence halls on Friday, August 27, so they may have an opportunity to meet other first-year students before the upperclassmen move back on campus. In addition to the time to socialize and meet fellow-first-years, workshops on time management and academic expectations are another vital element of the August Orientation, which is designed to prepare students for success in their first semester of classes. Small groups of faculty and students gather to continue the discussion of the COMPASS Reading. COMPASS 101 also serves as an introduction to the COMPASS Program and the workshops in the fall.
Jennifer Morrison, Ph.D.
Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs
Assumption University