The Common Experience
About the Program
The Common Experience is a seminar style course offered to freshmen in their fall and spring semesters. Over two semesters, first-year students are given the skills necessary to become informed and active participants in their academic and post-collegiate career. Both faculty and staff serve as Common Experience Instructors. Students earn 3 credits for completion of The Common Experience. The classroom experience includes weekly 50 minute sessions. In the Fall Semester, students take the Common Intellectual Experience, which provides the foundation for academic success. In the Spring Semester, students take The Common Professional Experience, designed to inform students about career planning, competencies, and professionalism in the outside world.
Fisher students participating in the Common Experience program received The Pact as this year's common reading. Written by three African-American doctors from Newark, New Jersey, The Pact chronicles their pledge to overcome the trials of their youth to become successful professionals in the medical field.
A dedicated online intranet site serves as a repository for documents and resources, conversations - including those with peer mentors.
As a complement to the core academic curriculum, students benefit from Common Sessions that are scheduled throughout the year. Convocations built around the annual theme, Global Voices of Expression: Race, Sex & Class, contextualize and enrich learning through speaker events and related activities.
First Semester-Common Intellectual Experience
The Common Intellectual Experience (CIE) gives space to first-year students so that they can comfortably transition to the increased demands and expectations of college. CIE is about shifting attitudes around academics and the social experience.
Nurturing the process of independent learning - in organized and serendipitous opportunities - is vital to higher education success. To that end, CIE enables students to join the Fisher community and determine outlets for growth; identify factors that influence academic outcomes; and document progress and development by preparing an Academic Plan.
Second Semester-Common Professional Experience
Building onto the skills introduced in the Fall, the CPE provides pre-professional development. The Office of Career Services is entwined with the CPE. This specialization focuses on the competencies needed to succeed in a chosen academic program and related profession. The Career Plan, just like the Academic Plan, helps students navigate towards professional fulfillment.
To learn more about the Common Experience curriculum, please contact Nancy Pithis, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.