By Victor Ordonez
Philosophy of human nature, art history and composition II are some classes freshmen encounter in their first semester at Fordham. While still some of the required core classes most students will take, freshmen entering the university have more say in their schedule. Now, most Fordham College Rose Hill students register themselves.
Robert Parmach, dean of the freshmen class, and Michael Rametta, assistant to the dean of the freshmen class, developed this program based on their past experiences advising freshmen in the fall.
“In the past we have always encountered very sincere and excited students, but they are not always educated about the core and as a result they have a lot of questions,” said Parmach. “These questions could eventually lead them to be nervous. There doesn’t need to be nervousness. Our goal is to get them to feel more confident in the core.”
Not all students registered entirely themselves. Gabelli School of Business (GSB) students, for instance, only part self-registered. Athletes also did not entirely self register.
The new registration method aims to familiarize incoming students with the core, according Rametta. Freshmen received video tutorials in late May that elaborated on the complexities of online programs like Degreeworks. They access the tutorials via the “my courses,” section on Blackboard. Completing the videos was mandatory.
“The Degreeworks guidance is brand new and is probably something the upperclassmen would appreciate for their own sort of guidance,” said Rametta. “The program is complex and gives in-depth examples. This program is great because it allowed students to familiarize themselves with Degreeworks before even stepping foot on campus.”
Some freshmen appreciated registering themselves but found the videos unnecessary.
“I like being able to choose our own classes, but the videos were tedious and not useful,” said Conor Vonderahe, FCHR ’21.
Clay Walters, FCRH ’21, said he liked choosing classes “because it gave me flexibility and let me take classes I preferred. I thought the videos were a little lengthy, however.”
The new method of registering also incorporated a one-on-one advising aspect, according to Parmach. Incoming students are paired up with a Summer Freshmen Academic Coordinator (SFAC). These advisors contact students via email and aide them in his or her registration. Each SFAC is responsible for between 80 and 85 students.
Rachel Annunziato, Ph.D., associate dean for strategic initiatives, was a SFAC this summer. “It was a pleasure seeing them navigate our procedures so quickly and adeptly,” said Annunziato. “As a faculty member, I also greatly enjoyed learning more about the different aspects of this process.”
SFACs underwent training in preparation for their advising sessions with the incoming freshmen, according to Annunziato.
“We attended a day-long training session followed by regular check-ins and updates from Dean Parmach and Mr. Rametta,” said Annunziato. “Our training also included staff from Academic Records, which was really helpful.”
Annunziato is also a freshmen advisor during the academic semester. She was able to witness first-hand the effects of the new registration program.
“I think registration went incredibly well,” said Annunziato. “My core advisees seemed so ready for add/drop.”
Rametta said that an underlying cause for the new program was past freshmen’s confusion regarding the core curriculum. “Students would come in and they would fill out the freshmen survey online, we’d give them their schedule and they’d tend to be confused,” said Rammeta. “They didn’t know why they were taking the classes we gave them. So this was sort of the educational foundation of wanting freshmen to do self registration.”
In previous years, freshmen were required to take a survey that dictated the classes they would take along with their schedule.
