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Starting college can be an emotional roller coaster for many entering students. Beyond leaving the comfort of home, they must begin to build new relationships with friends and teachers. To help students connect with the College of Education and to build a feeling of community among fellow students, education faculty and staff members hosted a luncheon on Aug. 20 to welcome members of the education Freshman Interest Groups (FIGs).
Learning Together
FIGs, which were created at Mizzou to help ease students into college life, are building communities within residence halls that consist of students who share the same major and take weekly classes together. Entering education students can choose from three FIGs called Tomorrow’s Teachers A, B and C.
Each FIG has a peer advisor who lives with the students in the residence hall. These upper-level undergraduate students help those in the FIG to navigate college life, including areas such as classes, professors, and extracurricular activities. The Tomorrow’s Teachers FIGs are led by Eric Hucker, junior, secondary social studies education major; Kristen Berghoff sophomore, elementary education major; and Kaitlin Swanegan, junior, elementary education major.
In addition to the peer advisors, students in Tomorrow’s Teachers FIGs have the support of co-faculty advisors. Michelle Bollinger, coordinator of career services, Mike Pullis, chair of the Department of Special Education, and Kathy Unrath, professor of art education, all give their time to ensure the academic and social success of each FIG member.