The Freshmen First Program at The University of Memphis may provide freshmen with an easy transition into college life, but according to some students in the program, the perks offered by the program do not justify the total cost.
The cost for a student to join the Freshmen First program is $2,085 per semester, according to Freshmen First coordinator Debra Matthews.
For that price, an incoming freshman is given a double room at Richardson Towers, $200 in “dining funds,” ten all-you-can-eat meals a week at the Richardson Towers cafe and a laundry card. The participant is also enrolled into an introductory ACAD course.
Matthews said the cost also includes Freshmen First perks — such as tutoring sessions.
“We have tutoring on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and we also allow the members to check in to their dorms a day earlier than other students, so they can get settled down,” Matthews said.
The tutoring sessions are not exclusive to Freshmen First members, though — anyone can attend.
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“I think they could have done a better job of letting people know what exactly was offered in the program.” — Juredia Mister Freshmen First member |
The tutors, whose services are included in the $2,085 package, are often students themselves. However, tutors are required to have received an A in the subject in which they are helping students.
Some members said they had not been made aware of the programs offered. “I didn’t even know I had a meal plan until eight weeks after school started,” said Juredia Mister, a current Freshmen First member.
“I think they could have done a better job of letting people know what exactly was offered in the program,” Mister said.
While some students said they did not like the program, others, like Brandy Finnie, a sophomore in business administration who participated in the program as a freshman, said it was money well spent.
According to Matthews, many programs are offered — such as tutoring and luncheons.
But Finnie said there were not enough programs offered. “I just think there should be more extracurricular activities offered,” she said. However, Finnie added, she did enjoy the other aspects of the program, especially the prepackaged books given to students before the first semester.
Matthews, who took over the Freshmen First coordinator position in January of 2001, said that more programs will be added in the future, and that a faculty/staff mentor program has already been added.
“In the program we have a luncheon with members and faculty, so that students can meet the teachers and faculty and pair them up in a mentor/student relationship,” Matthews said.
“It’s an OK program, but I could have survived without it,” said David Wells, a former participant, now a sophomore majoring in information systems.
“The restrictions made on the TigerFunds money is something that I resented,” Wells said. “We should be able to spend the $200 in food money on supplies for school.”
“I think that the lack of programs offered makes (the Freshmen First program) a rip-off,” Mister said.
