Find your purpose and your community not only for the next four years, but for the rest of your life. FYE is the first step in your Sewanee journey.

FYE Components

I.
Explore

Get out of the classroom and into the areas in and around Sewanee for activities that fit your interests. Explore the Domain's 13,000 acres, serve your community, tap into your creative side, enhance your athletic skills, and more—the choice is yours.

II.
Encounter

An academic course that examines a complex challenge or topic from interdisciplinary perspectives. Beginning with a pre-semester immersion to allow you to form strong connections with your classmates and professor, the course finishes before the Thanksgiving break—meaning you'll have one less final exam to take in December.

III.
Embark

A one-credit course designed to help you navigate your Sewanee experience, gain a sense of belonging as you build a network of relationships and connections, and understand the resources and opportunities available to support your success. You will  gain helpful skills and discover how to make the most of your Sewanee educational experience.

WHAT IS FYE?

Sewanee’s First Year Experience (FYE) is a multi-dimensional jump start to your Sewanee experience. Connect with new friends, faculty, and staff in small groups with activities and academics chosen to fit you as an individual. FYE introduces you to the Domain (our 13,000 acre campus), college life, interdisciplinary study, and the many people who make Sewanee special. Starting in 2026, ALL new first-year students will participate in ALL parts of FYE!

HOW IS FYE STRUCTURED?

FYE includes three exciting components: Sewanee Explore, Sewanee Encounter, and Sewanee Embark. You get to experience ALL THREE of those dimensions in your first semester and get an early start on finding community, transitioning to college, building relationships, and exploring all that Sewanee has to offer.

Contact Us

Have questions about FYE, or want to learn more about the program? Contact us at sewaneefye@sewanee.edu.

Join us for an Online Information Session

The director of FYE, Betsy Sandlin, will host an online session at 4 p.m. CDT on Tuesday, April 7, to share more information about the FYE program and how to choose your Explore and Encounter options. New students and their families are both invited to attend. No RSVP is necessary—just join the session via this link (https://sewanee-edu.zoom.us/j/92104169983) at the time of the session. We will share a recording of the session afterward for those who are unable to join.

Sewanee Explore

Explore the Possibilities

The purpose of the Sewanee Explore program is just that—to give you the chance to explore the wide range of activities and opportunities that Sewanee has to offer, and to help you to make even more connections to students, faculty, and staff all around campus. Some Explore tracks will be linked to a specific Sewanee Encounter course, to facilitate deeper engagement with the topic. Other courses will not have an Explore link, meaning you can choose from an exciting menu of co-curricular and extracurricular activities. Recruited fall season varsity student-athletes (men's & women's cross country, field hockey, football, men's & women's soccer, and volleyball) participating in the FYE program will have athletics as their Explore track. Check out the list of Explore opportunities!

Sewanee Encounter

Immersive Learning

The professors teaching Sewanee Encounter courses represent an interdisciplinary collection of leading Sewanee faculty. They bring their own unique perspectives to big questions of vital importance in today’s world. When you register for FYE, you'll rank your top choices from the list of available courses—all of which count toward Sewanee's general education requirement.

A typical semester schedule for a Sewanee student consists of four, four-credit courses. Sewanee Encounter will be one of the four courses on your first semester schedule, and you'll earn four credits toward graduation when you complete it. After a two-day, pre-semester immersion experience, your Sewanee Encounter course will meet weekly until the Thanksgiving Break.

Sewanee Embark

Find Your Path

You will be registered for the one-credit Sewanee Embark course that meets once a week throughout your first semester. Taught by faculty and staff, this course will help you navigate your transition to college and chart your course for the future. An older student will attend your weekly Embark class to provide mentorship and guidance alongside the instructor who will be a faculty or staff member. Both of these individuals will add to your team of support as you begin to write your new chapter at Sewanee.

Your first semester at a glance ...

Date Activity
Wednesday, Aug. 19, and Thursday, Aug. 20
  • Arrive on campus and move into your residence hall room—you will select your move-in date after you receive your housing assignment in July (Note: fall season varsity athletic teams have earlier arrival and move-in dates; if you are a fall season athlete, see your coach for your team’s move-in date.)
  • Sewanee Embark and Explore begin on the afternoon of Thursday, Aug. 20
Friday, Aug. 21
  • Sewanee Explore continues
Saturday, Aug. 22

  • Beginning of the pre-semester immersion experience for your Sewanee Encounter course

  • Sewanee Explore concludes
Sunday, Aug. 23
  • Sewanee Encounter continues
Monday, Aug. 24
  • Sewanee Encounter continues
  • Receive an introduction to key campus resources and opportunities
Tuesday, Aug. 25
  • Join the rest of your classmates for a class photo, sign the Honor Code, and attend the Activities Fair
Wednesday, Aug. 26
  • First day of classes
  • Sewanee Embark and Encounter courses will start meeting weekly
By Friday, Nov. 20
  • Sewanee Embark course concludes
  • Sewanee Encounter course culminates in a student-led project to be shared with the community—and you finish your first four-credit course at Sewanee!

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to sign up for FYE?

Yes. All first year students are required to register for FYE. First, you will select your Explore track from a menu of options on the registration form. Next, you will then rank your Encounter course preferences so that we can take them into account as we build out your first semester course schedule. Note: When you receive your course schedule in August, you will see a one-credit course listed, FYRP 136: Embark. This is the third required component of FYE, but it has no required sign-up form.

Where do I sign up for FYE?

You will register for FYE via your Applicant Status Page, where you will find the forms for choosing your Explore track and ranking your preferred Encounter courses. In 2026, FYE registration will open on Thursday, April 9. 

Can I wait to sign up?

All students will have an Explore track and an Encounter course, but each Explore track has a specific capacity and spots are first come first served. If you have a preference, you should sign up as soon as possible. Encounter courses will be assigned at a later time, but you should go ahead and rank your top preferences now.

What happened to PRE? 

If you are familiar with our PRE program, it is still running under the umbrella of the First Year Experience as one of many choices in the FYE Explore track. There are limited spots in all Explore tracks, so be sure to choose PRE if that is your preference. 

What if I don’t want to spend a lot of time outside?

There are Explore tracks designed for you, as well! We suggest you choose from Sewanee Soundscapes, Tiger Pride, A Higher Calling, or Rooted and Grounded.

What if I change my mind after choosing an explore track?

Since there are a limited number of spots in each Explore track, we ask that you select your choice with confidence. Changes may be made on a case-by-case basis but must be requested by emailing sewaneefye@sewanee.edu.

If I’m playing a fall sport, do I need to register?

Yes. Fall sport student-athletes (field hockey, football, soccer, volleyball) will have their Explore track satisfied by their sport. You should return to the first FYE form and indicate that you are a fall athlete. Fall athletes will be enrolled in an Encounter course, so it is important that you fill out the Encounter form ranking your preferences. Note: Cross country athletes WILL register for an Explore track in addition to their Encounter course.

Is there any cost associated with FYE?

No, your First Year Experience is included in your cost of attendance.

What if I have questions about FYE?

You may contact sewaneefye@sewanee.edu or the director, Professor Betsy Sandlin, at bsandlin@sewanee.edu.