First Year Experience

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.

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.

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!

All students who participate in FYE will be registered for the one-credit Sewanee Embark course that will meet 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.

Yes, you can! You'll still be able to attend practice with your teammates during the program. If you have questions about participating, check with your coach.

Sewanee's FYE program is carefully structured so that the three components—Encounter, Explore, and Embark—connect to one another and support your success at Sewanee. When you choose to register for FYE, you choose to be part of all three. You'll arrive on campus early for the pre-semester portion of Sewanee Encounter; participate in Sewanee Explore activities in the days leading up to the start of classes; and meet weekly with your Sewanee Encounter and Sewanee Embark courses during the semester.

Yes! Your journey at Sewanee will encapsulate much more than just your major, and FYE will help you identify and explore all of those possibilities. By studying other disciplines and seeking out new experiences, you'll be able to address topics in your major in a new, deeper way. Plus, the credits you earn will count toward your general education requirement, which all students need to complete in order to graduate.

Of course! Most students come to college with some questions about what they want to study. At Sewanee, you won't declare a major until your sophomore year—so you have plenty of time to explore and find the academic program that's right for you. FYE will introduce you to what's out there and help you to discover your path.

Yes, you'll be able to participate in orientation and all FYE activities—you don't have to worry about missing out! You'll arrive on campus before the start of orientation. Once orientation begins on Saturday, Aug. 23, your daily schedule will include activities from both FYE and orientation. You'll still get to meet the rest of your new classmates, learn about the University, and sign the Honor Code together as the entire Class of 2029.