Theme - Character

The Foundational Theme for the First-Year Experience for Academic Year 2008-2009

Ithaca College strives to become the standard of excellence for residential comprehensive colleges, fostering intellect, creativity, and character in an active, student-centered learning community. As such, each year the First-Year Experience Coordinating Committee selects a thematic focus for the incoming year grounded in this vision for Ithaca College.

"Character" will serve as the foundational theme for the entering Class of 2012 and the FIrst-Year Experience for the 2008-2009 academic year. Through the components of the First-Year Experience, and other programs on campus during the year, first-year students will read about, discuss and reflect upon issues that relate to character and character development. Character is the complex mental and ethical traits marking and often individualizing a person; the stable and distinctive qualities built into an individual's life that determines his/her response regardless of circumstances. The First-Year Experience provides Ithaca College Students with the opportunity and environment to engage in the purposeful processes of reflection and discussion regarding the meaning of character and character development. Additionally, by actively participating in new experiences and engaging in interactions that challenge pre-existing perspectives and values, students will strengthen their understanding of the meaning of character, clarify their own character traits and embrace the importance of ongoing character development. By embracing the challenges and opportunities afforded through the First-Year Experience, students will become more aware of who they are, the values and actions of the person they would like to become, and how to be more intentional regarding their ongoing development as a person of strong character.

Overall, the undergraduate experience at Ithaca College provides a unique opportunity to engage with new ideas and critical reflection, as well as the forum to cultivate the skills for life-long learning and character development. All first-year students are encouraged to embrace the First-Year Experience as it serves as the foundation for what will become their Ithaca Experience. Additionally, students should consider the foundational theme for 2008-2009, "character", as they engage in the many new experiences and interactions, both formal and informal, throughout the first year at Ithaca College.