What is First-Year Experience?
The First-Year Experience at SUNY Old Westbury is designed to support, nurture and transition students in their first year of college.
Our goal is to promote academic success, college persistence and classroom and community engagement. The FYE provides advising, mentoring, workshops, speakers, and an innovative year-long curriculum that includes a common First-Year Seminar, FY1000 The Ethics of Engagement and CL2000 Civic Engagement, a course-embedded community-based learning and action experience for all first-year students.
Students are surrounded by their Success Team that includes their Class Dean and assigned Academic Advisor.
What You Need To Do
- Read the information in this guide. .
- Reply to the student orientation survey you received via your Old Westbury (OW) email.
- Further details regarding your first year and your course schedule will be discussed at your New Student Orientation (NSO) session.
- Please email the Office of First-Year Experience if you have any questions.
First-Year Program (required fall semester)
- FY1000 Ethics of Engagement 4 cr. This course introduces students to academic and campus life at Old Westbury, emphasizing the themes of self-discovery, the meaning of a liberal education, and the nature of personal and social responsibility. By acknowledging the intellectual and emotional challenges students confront in their first year of college, the course encourages students to evaluate their ideas and assumptions, and the impact of their decisions on themselves, their community and the world. (Humanities and Diversity designation)
First-Year Program (required spring semester)
- CL2000 Community, Action, Learning and Leadership 2cr. This course integrates community-based learning into the first-year curriculum, challenging students to confront the big questions facing the world today by participating in and reflecting upon civic engagement activities. The goal of this class is to encourage active learning, to promote intercultural understanding, and to build academic, interpersonal, organizational and leadership skills. Students may be expected to attend mandatory workshops and campus events.
“Sample” first year plan of study
Fall Semester
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| FY1000 | Ethics of Engagement | 4 |
| 000000 | General Education Course | 4 |
| EL1000 | English Composition 1 | 4 |
| MAXXX | Math selection | 4 |
Fall Total: 16 credits
Spring Semester
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CL2000 | Community Learning | 2 |
| 000000 | General Education Course | 4 |
| EL2000 | English Composition II | 4 |
| MAXXXX | Math selection | 4 |
| XX0000 | Elective selection | 4 |
Spring Total: 18 credits
Notes:
- Students have many General Education courses from which to choose. Please see the University Undergraduate Catalog for descriptions.
- All students, regardless of major, have to complete Liberal Education Curriculum (LEC) that includes a Diversity course, Math and Writing Proficiencies, and all the General Education domains which parallels to SUNY General Education.
- Courses can take different forms: On-Campus, Hybrid, Remote or Online. Please see COURSE MODALITIES under College Terminology 101 in this document.
Contacts
The First-Year Experience Program is in the Student Union building.
Bonnie Eannone
First Year Class Dean, First-Year Experience Program
Room: 313-E
Phone: (516) 876-3936
E-mail: eannoneb@oldwestbury.edu
Lisa Guzzardi
Administrative Assistant, First-Year Experience Program
Room: 313-C
Phone: (516) 876-3458
E-mail: guzzardil@oldwestbury.edu
Jennifer Marasco
First Year Advisor, First-Year Experience Program
Room: 313-H
Phone: (516) 628-5644
E-mail: marascoj@oldwestbury.edu
Stephanie Mejia
First Year Advisor, First-Year Experience Program
Room: 313-D
Phone: (516) 628-5526
E-mail: mejias@oldwestbury.edu
Mouhamad Toure
First Year Advisor, First-Year Experience Program
Room: 313-G
Phone: (516)876-4733
E-mail: tourem@oldwestbury.edu
Sydney Williams-Ruiz
First Year Advisor, First-Year Experience Program
Room: 313-F
Phone: (516)876-3455
E-mail: williamss@oldwestbury.edu
Frequently Asked Questions
- Question: How do I register for my first-semester schedule?
- Answer: You will be pre-registered for your courses prior to New Student Orientation (NSO). You need to meet with a First-Year advisor to confirm your schedule.
- Question: Who is my advisor?
- Answer: You will meet with an advisor to confirm your schedule over the summer. During your first year, you may seek advising from anyone in the First Year Office, ACE, the Academic Planning Center, or EOP. You can find your advisor on Navigate under Your Success Team once the semester begins.
- Question: How many credits/courses will I be taking my first-semester?
- Answer: You will usually take 4 classes your first semester, which are 4 credits each, totaling 16 credits.
- Question: What is Common Hour?
- Answer: Common Hour is at 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm, Monday through Thursday. Typically, there are no classes scheduled for this time period. The college uses this time for club and department programming.
- Question: Will I be able to receive AP credit?
- Answer: Yes. You must score a 3, 4, or 5 to receive AP credit. An Official Score Report must be sent to the Registrar directly from College Board.
- Answer: Yes. You must score a 3, 4, or 5 to receive AP credit. An Official Score Report must be sent to the Registrar directly from College Board.
- Question: Is it possible to receive credit by examination for IB scores?
- Answer: Yes. The grade must be a C or better and you must transfer the scores to Old Westbury. Please see Transfer Services for assistance.
- Question: When will I receive my Fall 2026 schedule?
- Answer: Your Fall 26 class schedule is available on your OW portal under Class Schedule.
- Question: Can I change my schedule once I receive it?
- Answer: Yes. Your schedule will be verified and any changes that need to be made during your advising appointment with an advisor in the First Year Office, ACE, the Academic Advising Center or EOP.
- Question: What if I want to declare a major that is different from the major I listed on my Old Westbury application?
- Answer: To change your major, you must do it from the OW portal, Academics Tab, Registrar Forms card, and then Change of Major Request Form. Some majors have restrictions, the School of Education and the School of Business.
- Question: If I have any questions, whom can I contact?
- Answer: Please send an email to the Office of First-Year Experience.
College Terminology 101
- APPLICATION: The first step to enroll is to complete and submit the College’s application form.
- BRIGHTSPACE: Old Westbury’s online learning management system.
- BURSAR: The office that coordinates the billing process, handles student accounts and processes financial aid and other financial functions.
- CATALOG: The catalog provides information you need know about enrolling, college policies, curriculum, and courses.
- CREDIT HOUR: College classes are measured by credit hours. One credit hour equates to one classroom hour per week. Most classes are worth three to four credit hours.
- COURSE MODALITIES: There are 4 common types of course delivery:
- On-Campus: A face-to-face course that meets on campus as scheduled.
- Hybrid: A distance course that meets half the time in an assigned classroom as scheduled and has asynchronous online work.
- Remote: A distance course with all instruction conducted during scheduled class times via an online conferencing platform.
- Online: A distance course with online asynchronous instruction via an online conferencing platform with no scheduled meeting times.
- CURRICULUM: A curriculum is the set of courses required to complete a program.
- ELECTIVE: A class of your choosing taken to meet he credit-hour graduation requirement.
- FAFSA: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid- at fafsa.ed.gov - is the first step to receiving federal aid or consideration for scholarships or state aid.
- FINANCIAL AID: The office that assists with services and resources available to help applicants with the financial aid process.
- FULL-TIME OR PART-TIME: A full-time student is enrolled in 12 or more credit hours in a semester, about four to five classes. A part-time student is enrolled in less than 12 credit hours in a semester, or generally one to three classes.
- GPA: The Grade Point Average is an average of a student’s grades based on a 4-point scale. An A is a 4.0, B is a 3.0, C is a 2.0 and D is 1.0.
- HUMANITIES: Humanities courses include literature, philosophy, fine arts, foreign language, and other related areas.
- LIBERAL EDUCATION CURRICULUM: A core curriculum that provides students with a broad multidisciplinary liberal arts education.
- MAJOR/MINOR: A major is a student’s chosen field of study for a degree. A minor in a secondary field requires fewer credit hours.
- PREREQUISITE: A course required before taking another course.
- REGISTRAR: The office is responsible for registration records, transcripts requests, transfer credit evaluation, declaration of majors, processing of grades and other related functions.
- SOCIAL SCIENCES: Social science courses include history, psychology, sociology, criminology, and geography.
- SYLLABUS: The instructor’s outline of important information about the expectations of a course, including exams, readings, and the professor’s contact information.
- TRANSCRIPT: The permanent academic record of courses taken and grades received at a college.
- TRANSFER: If a student moves, or transfers, from one college to another, accumulated credit hours can also be transferred. The new institution decides which credits apply toward a degree. Generally, a grade of D or lower does not transfer.
- TUITION: The cost of each credit hour. Tuition varies based on residency in a state, and does not include the cost of books, fees, or room and board.