Learning in college isn’t just inside the classroom, and that’s why Kalamazoo College offers First-Year Forums: Finding Your Way at K Program Series for all first-year students during their fall term. As a result of attending First-Year Forum programs, students will be able to identify various campus resources and connect the knowledge gained at these programs to their curricular and co-curricular experiences at Kalamazoo College.

First-Year Forum programs are offered throughout the fall term, and usually 1-2 hours in length. Programs are on topics important for first-year students (getting organized, study abroad/away, civic engagement opportunities in Kalamazoo, stress management, career planning, and more!). These engaging programs are facilitated by faculty, staff, and sometimes even upper-class students.

First-year students are required to attend one program in each of five different categories:

• Social Justice and Civic Engagement
• Intercultural Understanding
• Personal Decision Making and Habits
• Career and Professional Development
• Academic Success and Independent Scholarship

Multiple unique programs are offered throughout the quarter in each of the five categories, so students can pick and choose what programs to attend based on their interest and schedule. Students receive the full program schedule in their Orientation folder, and are sent weekly reminders on Fridays throughout the term to highlight the programs for the following week. Students are welcome to attend more programs than required.

Forum attendance is logged as part of the First-Year Seminar grade. If students do not attend at least one program in each group, two percentage points for each Forum missed will be deducted from the final Seminar grade.

Students with questions about First-Year Forum programs and requirements are welcome to contact Dana Jansma, Dean of Students (dana.jansma@kzoo.edu).