A student's first year experiences at a college can be the determining factor to his or her success.   At Madonna University we feel that a student's entire experience should be a pleasant one. This is why we stand by our First-Year of College Philosophy. First-Year of College Philosophy      Madonna University believes that the first year of university study calls for a focused program of study, advisement, and orientation, based on the following philosophical perspectives: We believe that learning is social and is best promoted and supported by a community of learners.  To this end, the University encourages first-year-of-college students to participate in the Collaborative Studies Program, a curriculum that links first-year courses to create a community of learners. We believe that learning is developmental, that is, that first-year students are at individual levels of maturation and intellectual, social, and personal development.  As educators, the faculty is committed to understanding where students are when they come to us, accepting and valuing them as persons, and identifying strategies for fostering their development. We believe that learning is holistic and strive to fulfill our mission of intellectual, spiritual, and personal development.  To this end, the Collaborative Studies Program promotes interdisciplinary approaches to learning and problem solving so that students recognize the interconnectedness of knowledge and human experience.  We believe that our educational practice should be learner-centered. This implies that students need to be taught to take responsibilities for their learning in order to promote the ideal of life-long learning.  One aspect of this goal relates to the component of UNV 1010, Transitions to Higher Education, that familiarizes students with the variety of academic support services available to them as Madonna University students and encourage them to use these services when they experience academic difficulty. We believe that education at Madonna University should promote the idea of service to our communities, particularly to those in the global community who are less fortunate.  This is a reflection of the University's commitment to Catholic teachings on social justice and the ideals of St. Francis of Assisi.  To this end, the University requires all students in UNV 1010 to participate in a service learning experience. We believe that students benefit from understanding the history, traditions, and foundational values of university they attend.  Through the continuum of admissions, orientation, pre-enrollment, first semester, and second semester, the University has designed intentional strategies for communicating these ideas to first-year students.

Intellectual, Spiritual & Personal Growth