In response to the decline in enrollment, The New School is prioritizing the retention of enrolled students by enhancing support for first-year students through its First-Year Experience (FYE) program. Some students have expressed concerns about the program, while others were grateful for it. 

“FYE was something that came as a retention effort from the Division of Student Success,” Aaron Harman, director of first-year experience and transition experience, said. “Many institutions across the nation have a First-Year Experience program, which is an intentional effort as soon as a student deposits with the institution and some communication engagement during the summer, as well as the onboarding with orientation. The New School FYE is called Narwhal Compass.”

Harman detailed the program’s structure and said, “[students] are enrolled in a Canvas course called Narwhal Transitions in the summer — a six-week period where they’re introduced to new resources and departments … Then we lead into the first 50 days of the semester, Narwhals Discover, where the students engage with programs that happen within departments and Student Leadership and Involvement.”

Despite these efforts from TNS, some students still struggle in their first year. Zharick Alvarez Gonzalez, a first-year student at Eugene Lang Liberal Arts College, said, “I have no idea about the First-Year Experience Program.” However, she added that she felt TNS had more events than other colleges: “This week, we had a mitzvah, and they provided free food and stuff like that … in the beginning, the orientation definitely helped a lot in making friends.”

MJ Jordan, a first-year student studying integrated design at Parson School of Design, shared that the program helped with the transition to college but fell short in building a strong sense of community: “[FYE] helped me a little bit, but not as much … It’s hard to meet people, find a community, or navigate events.”

However, many students recognize the university’s efforts to foster community and connection. 

Renee Caballero, a first-year student at Lang, expressed appreciation for her Health Services counseling experience, but said, “They [the school] could do a better job at advertising the resources they have. If people hadn’t told me about the counseling services, I wouldn’t have known they existed.”  

Harman acknowledged the disconnect some students experience with the FYE program. He said, “[Students] may not know about a First-Year Experience program because they don’t even know that they were a part of it. We don’t name it as such to make sure that they’re willing to be open to reading those communications that are coming out and the resources that are being provided to them.” 

“Students have to be willing and able to want to open up to those types of resources. No matter the generation, [students] seek the resources that [they] need in the time that [they] need them,” Harman added.