Welcome to Principia College!

I’m Dr. Steve Hinthorne, the director of our fantastic First-Year Experience (FYE) program. Over a decade ago, the Principia College (PC) faculty developed this rigorous program to help each first-year student (you) transition from high school academic expectations into college-level work. All first-year students with less than one quarter of transferable college-level work are required to enroll in either an FYE program or at least two FYE “multiple-option” (MO) courses. In addition, you have to take at least one FYE course during Fall Quarter of your first year at PC.

This website provides information about the choices available to you and a preference sheet to fill out and submit by June 16, 2009. We are eager to help you make your transition to college as exciting and meaningful as possible, and FYE is one of the ways we do that. After you have submitted the registration form listing your top three choices, I will assign students to the various programs. (In the years since FYE began, no student has had to be placed in his or her third choice.) Then, after you arrive on campus in August, you’ll hear brief presentations by the professors teaching this year’s FYE courses. If, at that point, you want to change your FYE assignment, I’ll do my best to make the switch. There is no guarantee; it depends on space available at the time.

Once you and I have decided on the FYE program/courses for you, you can look up in the Course Schedule for Fall, 2009, the times and rooms where your courses will be taught.  One last opportunity to change (providing there is space available) occurs during the “add-drop” week (the first week of Fall quarter).  I need to sign and assent to all changes by all students in FYE courses and programs.

If I can answer questions or help in any way, you can reach me at 618.374.5228 or at Steve.Hinthorne@princpia.edu. Have a great summer. I look forward to meeting you in August!

Best,

Dr. Steve Hinthorne
Professor of Mathematics
Director, First Year Experience

P. S. To find out more about the goals of FYE, go to FYE Goals on the navigation menu.