AG 1011: getting the right start
    "I want to ensure every one of our freshmen students is successful," said Wes Holley, CASNR assistant dean. "We want a 100-percent retention rate of freshmen returning in the spring and eventually receiving their degrees from OSU."
    To help ensure student success, the college offers agricultural orientation, better known as AG 1011. "Ag orientation" has become known as one of the most beneficial classes to take at OSU because it is designed to introduce freshmen to collegiate life and allow them to familiarize themselves with the changes and challenges they will face as college students.
    The course teaches students the skills, procedures and services useful and necessary for an outstanding academic program, thus improving chances for a successful college career.
    Through the class, students gain tools allowing them to improve study habits, time management skills, attitudes toward collegiate classwork, and academic goal setting, Holley said.
    Looking at the course objectives and fundamental purpose of this class doesn’t do justice to the impact it makes on students. Holley brings a teaching style that creates a high level of energy and excitement in the classroom, encouraging and motivating freshmen to get enthusiastic about life at Oklahoma State.
    "As a teacher, I have to show students I’m truly concerned about their general welfare from the moment they arrive," Holley said.
    The high emphasis on an upbeat classroom atmosphere and open-door policy are ways Holley shows he cares for students.
    Holley said he has four basic teaching philosophies he implements in the classroom: responsibility, time management, note-taking techniques and the importance of reading effectively.
    The first is responsibility. Students learn the importance of taking their collegiate work seriously and putting in the time and effort necessary to succeed in the classroom.
    "Students have to realize that they are their own people now. Mom and dad are at home, so it is up to them to take an initiative and focus on the joys and challenges of college," Holley said.
    Time management skills are relayed as a vital component to accomplishing goals and establishing a well-rounded collegiate experience. New reading methods and note-taking skills also are introduced to help the adjustment from high school to the more challenging and accelerated coursework of college.
    "When I look out at the class, I don’t see students sitting in a room. I see opportunity and the potential for incredible talent," Holley said.
    Students agree this class is useful. Ross Hudson, agricultural economics freshman, said he enjoyed Holley’s diverse teaching style.
    "He keeps the class interesting by incorporating a highly motivating teaching style and discussing issues important to me and my success at OSU," Hudson said. "This class is the reason
    I’m off on the right foot. I’m looking forward to several more great years here."
    AG 1011’s course objectives help students focus on preparing for their future, whether it is college or the years beyond.

Wes Holley oversees SAM Jennifer Sconyers while she assists her 
sister and FIT student Jessica Sconyers.

Fitting in at OSU: Freshmen In Transition
    Although AG 1011 has been around for years, Holley developed the idea for FIT about three years ago, after studying a similar program at the University of Missouri. He wanted a program that would test OSU on its effectiveness in developing young leaders.
    Seventy-two students are FIT-ting in at OSU. The new program is giving students the opportunity to improve their academic skills,
leadership abilities and social skills.
    "I wanted to determine if we (CASNR) were doing everything we could for students," Holley said. "I believe that by increasing the expectations of the students they will stay in school, graduate and succeed."
    All components of the program were in place to begin, except the facilities for the residential learning community. When OSU decided to expand campus living residences, Holley said he saw a tremendous opportunity for FIT.
    "The timing was right," Holley said. "It was an opportunity to find a place to provide incoming freshmen with the options of living in an agriculturally themed community."
    Holley presented his ideas and goals to campus leaders and the OSU Department of Residential Life. As a result, the third and fourth floors of Jones Hall were allotted to agricultural theme living. This was the beginning of what is presumably one of the most comprehensive programs of its nature in the country, Holley said.
    Following permission granted by Residential Life and university officials, no time was wasted in informing students about FIT. Fliers and letters were sent to incoming CASNR students to let them know about the new program.
    Out of 132 applications received, 72 were randomly selected to be involved in the pilot year of Freshmen in Transition.
    The FIT program began right away. The 72 students attended Camp Cowboy at OSU for one week in July. It was a week filled with ropes courses, spirit sessions, question-and-answer sessions with professors, small group activities and even meeting Pistol Pete. Derrick Davies, agribusiness freshman, said Camp Cowboy was "really where we got to bond with each other as FIT students."
    Camp Cowboy was a way for students to meet, so when they moved into the residence halls they were not complete strangers. One of the perks of being a FIT student was having priority choice of a room in the new suite-style residential hall. Each suite has four single bedrooms and two full bathrooms which are joined by a living room and kitchenette.
    "Coed living is a great environment to be in. It works very well because you learn to interact with many different people," Davies said. "The commons area, on the third floor, is a great place to hang out. It feels like home and makes the transition easier."
    One of the goals of the FIT program is to challenge every aspect of the student’s development. To ensure OSU is doing everything it can to help students, Holley developed a list of expectations and requirements that encouraged success in college and life.
    Alison Sexten, agricultural education graduate student and FIT coordinator, said students must take an active role in 11 different areas. Activities range from community service and becoming involved in college and university organizations to attending Allied Arts events. Each of the areas has a minimum level of participation. Holley said the program was designed in this way to give students some structure in their lives as well as responsibility and accountability.
    Academics are, of course, a high priority. Students are encouraged to maintain at least a 2.5 grade point average in the fall and a 3.0 during the spring. Tutors are provided to help students maintain required GPAs. Once a week, students have access to tutors in chemistry, biology and several levels of math. In addition to the tutors, students have access to study groups and faculty assistance.
    Since this is the pilot year for FIT, it is being monitored and evaluated closely. Sexten and FIT evaluator Kathleen Kelsey are collecting data and monitoring students’ progress.
    Research began at Camp Cowboy when FIT students filled out pretests. To monitor further progress, students turn in weekly reports. To complete the research, Kelsey and Sexten will administer post-tests. When the students return in fall of 2001, they will be interviewed about their experiences in the first year of the program. Kelsey and Sexten said they want to know exactly how FIT affected students.
    Sexten said their research is covering several different areas, including academic achievement, how students get involved in community service, how they develop and take leadership roles, and their retention rate. The FIT students are compared to non-FIT freshmen who also took the pretest and will take the post-test.
    "I expect we will find the students will have had a great experience at OSU because they have bonded to a social group," Kelsey said. "They should be more focused, have above average GPAs, and have enhanced community living skills."
    Holley said he hopes the FIT program "will develop the students into excellent citizens who will have wonderful career opportunities."
    There may be some expansion made to the program in the future, but for now there is excitement about helping students FIT in at OSU.

FIT students and SAMs meet each week to discuss class 
challenges and college opportunities.

SAMs: students helping students
    SAMs are a key component in ensuring that freshmen FIT in at OSU. A great security for students enrolled in the FIT program is knowing a SAM lives right down the hall. They know they have a friend to discuss worries with or who will be a 24-hour tutor.
    Holley said he believes the transition from high school to college would be easier if freshmen had mentors, people close to their age who already had made the transition successfully. Four years ago, the Student Academic Mentor, or SAM program, was introduced to CASNR via the university-wide SAM program. SAMs are students who volunteer their time to various student development programs such as AG 1011 and FIT.
    Holley said SAMs "lead by example." They are older students who have displayed high academics, proven themselves to be leaders through involvement on campus, and possess a desire to help others. SAMs are there not only to help students through the trials of being freshmen, but also to help them grow and develop.
    SAMs have a tremendous opportunity to make positive impacts on freshmen by serving as teachers, mentors, friends and role models. Being student teachers in AG 1011, SAMs play a vital role in preparing freshmen for a productive college life.
    Every SAM is assigned about 10 to 12 students to be in their small groups. The groups focus on intense interaction between SAMs and students. The freshmen are given opportunities to ask questions about OSU or visit about problems they are having during their first semester.
    Holley helps prepare the SAMs for group sessions by conducting weekly meetings in which SAMs are given topics to discuss with the freshmen. Topics range from time management and club and organizational involvement to collegiate goal setting and adviser/student relations.
    Jamie Walker, agricultural communications junior and second year SAM, said she thinks the FIT program is a great way to help new students who come to OSU.
    "This is a great way to help them learn about OSU," Walker said. "I remember my struggles during my transition from high school to college, and I want to make sure new freshmen have some guidance during this time."
    One of the greatest responsibilities of a SAM is detecting student problems.
    "Noticing behavioral changes and catching concerns early, before they become major issues, helps in maintaining a positive collegiate experience for these students," Walker said.
    An appropriate balance of social opportunities and class work is an issue with which SAMs help. Kim Davis, animal science senior and third year SAM, said she wants to make sure her students get involved in university activities, maintain high academic standing, and enjoy the pleasures of establishing friendships while at OSU.
    "I set up study sessions for my students who want to come over and ask questions about classes or homework," Davis said. "I also have cookouts to encourage social interaction and allow the fun part of college to be introduced to them as well."
    Jennifer Sconyers, agricultural education graduate student, said she became a SAM because she wanted to help younger students.
    "When I was a freshman, I was shy and not involved on campus. My goal is to help others become involved early in college so they can see what OSU has to offer," Sconyers said.
    SAM Melissa Majors, agricultural communications and animal science sophomore, said she believes the social requirements are a positive aspect of the FIT program.
    "It was hard for me to get involved in clubs and organizations," Majors said. "The FIT requirements immerse the students into OSU. They become part of OSU instead of just going to school here."

    The implementation of these three programs provide freshmen with necessary skills to help fulfill their potential. With help from AG 1011, the FIT program and their SAMs, freshmen will have fewer problems obtaining their goals and reaching "destination success."