For $1,950 a semester, freshmen have the opportunity to eat well, wash clothes regularly and live on designated floors of Richardson Towers when they partake in The University of Memphis' Freshman First Program.
The program, founded three years ago to help freshman become oriented to University life, has seen a rise in participation and, according to some, in dissatisfaction.
While the pre-packaged living is the main point for those that enter the program, some students said they were expecting more and feel cheated out of the Freshman First experience.
"They did us like used car salesmen," Freshmen First participant Angel Rogers said. "If Freshman First was a used car, then we would have a lemon."
Students said The University's freshman orientation, a major supporter of the Freshman First program, made Freshmen First sound like a good program to join -- full of information and activities for its participants.
However, several students said few activities have been held since Aug. 26, which have some questioning the integrity of the program.
"A lot of people aren't on the program now because we didn't do anything," freshman Asheleigh Conley said.
Marcus Matthews, a Freshmen First resident adviser, said the program suffered last semester because of a lack of manpower.
"What happened last semester is the assistant area coordinator over West and Mynders died," Matthews said.
"The director of Freshmen First had to take over in West and Mynders, so the program suffered. (The director) didn't have enough time really to run the program."
Matthews said he believes the program will improve by the end of this semester.
Debra Matthews was recently hired to facilitate that improvement as the new assistant area coordinator of Richardson Towers and the Freshmen First Program.
Matthews said she is orienting herself to the campus and her residents, attending events, and planning programs with resident advisers.
She is also implementing new programs, including having each resident adviser do a community map of their residents, floor study sessions, and promoting Freshmen First tutoring twice a week.
"The Freshman First Program incorporates all the elements of campus life: classes, socializing, recreation, tutoring, study groups, and dining," Debra Matthews said.
"It's a tremendous program that offers new students a supportive community within the residence hall to help them achieve academic success."
According to its brochure, Freshman First participants have higher grade point averages than non-participating freshmen.
However, U of M Residence Life had no solid statistical figures or written documentation proving this to be the case.
"Economically, it's better for the students to do this," said Glenda Barton of Residence Life.
"Financially it's just a better deal."
