Rationale

A university is bigger and more diverse than a high school campus, and education delivery system is also different.  Besides these facts, social, cultural, academic, and economic differences are often a breeding ground for misunderstandings of studying at university that severely affect student’s academic achievements. Freshman Division Program (FDP) is organized as one of the academic wings to balance these differences and to help first-year students to acclimatize to new academic environment so as to make the most of the exciting university experiences. The program comprises a community of student union, instructors, professors, advisors, non-academic professional staffs and peer mentors. The office also helps new students to be a part of ASTU community by introducing them to student clubs, leaderships and student service providing offices, recreation programs and sport events. FDP office provides general advising, and a computer lab & study lounge where students can work together and exchange information with senior students. The courses, offer in the first year, are intended to ample students’ knowledge, ensure a happy stay and fulfilling university study by enhancing their adaptation to new environment for a successful academic accomplishment. Freshman coursesgrant student with fundamental knowledge and skills in which they acquire foundation for success in the remaining undergraduate years of study and beyond.

Mission

Freshman Division Programs promotes university triumph by providing learning communities designed to ensure, first-year students, successful transition from pre-engineering or pre-applied natural sciences to their major field of studies. The curriculum and services create a base for academic achievement, exciting university life, and community engagement. FDP gives opportunities for students to prepare for their major field of study so as to develop as individuals, scholars and citizens to become life-long learners to play leadership roles in science and technology.

Goals

The ultimate goal of the FDP is to help all students in building academic competencies by equipping them with necessary knowledge and skills for safe university experiences and successful academic achievement.

Tutor 

Registration begins at the beginning of each semester and the students are assigned to a tutor. Special attention is given to students with social needs, poor in English language communication, graduated from remote areas high schools and came from a rural area or foreigners (if any).
A welcome party (first week first Saturday) and regular meetings with FDP office, school deans’ and various program chairmen’s are held to promote friendship and school spirit. Student union and senior students (i.e. currently those having entered the school in the previous year) participate in planning and implementing program towards freshmen students.
From 2015/16 academic year onward, students screened, selected and assigned to ASTU are grouped in Pre-engineering and Pre-applied natural science disciplines. After one year of stay, they exit to the school of their major field of studies which is further facilitated by the selected school, by the student, to specific program.

Seminars

The purpose of freshman seminar is to help first-year students to experience and enroll in their desired major beforehand and assist in deciding the right major. The seminars provide an introduction to a particular field of study and/or take an interdisciplinary approach to a selected topic in collaboration with schools and/or programs. Whatever the subject and method of instruction, each seminar is designed specifically to address freshman students, and it gives enormous opportunities to work closely with all schools and programs.

Benefits 

• Preparation for academic challenges and successful achievements at ASTU
• One-to-one interaction with academicians and  graduate students in both academic and non-academic settings
• Workshops and trainings on topics of interest of first-year students
• Easy access to meet various academicians, personals, and career counselors who guide throughout their undergraduate careers at ASTU
• Get a peer counselor who helps in familiarizing them with University life experience that enhances easy transition to their right major
• Opportunities to form a strong peer support network,  build new friendships, and get access to join professional associations