Frequently Asked Questions: Table of Contents
Table of Contents – PAGE 1
Significant Changes – PAGE 2
What components of FYRE will remain the same?
What components of FYRE are changing?
Basic Information – PAGE 3
What is FYRE?
What is the mission of FYRE?
Who lives in FYRE?
Where is the FYRE program? What are the Residence Hall “clusters?”
What are the amenities within FYRE?
What types of room are in FYRE residence halls?
FYRE Focus – PAGE 4
What are the focus areas of FYRE?
What is the purpose of FYRE?
What are the FYRE Learning Outcomes?
FYRE Signature Components & Traditions – PAGE 5
What are the benefits of FYRE?
What traditions exist for first-year students?
How can students get involved in FYRE?
(rev. 6/9/16)
The People of FYRE – PAGE 6
What is an FYRE Associate?
How are FYRE Associates assigned?
Who is the Residence Director (RD)?
Who is the Resident Assistant (RA)?
OrgSync – PAGE 7
What is OrgSync?
How do students login to OrgSync?
Taskstream, ePortfolios, & DRFs – PAGE 8
What is Taskstream?
What is an electronic learning portfolio or ePortfolio?
What is a Directed Response Folio (DRF)?
How should students access their Taskstream account?
Where can students find support for their Taskstream accounts?
Is there training for how to use Taskstream?
Do students need to submit FYRE reflections in their DRF/e-portfolio?
If students have questions about their e-portfolios, who should they contact?
Significant Changes – Page 2
What components of FYRE will remain the same?
What components of FYRE are changing?
• The mission of FYRE remains the same: To provide a year-long,
intentional living learning environment that eases student
transitions, develops strong, active communities, and stimulates
intellectual curiosity.
•
Due to student feedback, FYRE will not be connected with the
ICC themes. Instead, FYRE will focus on:
1. Developing active and engaged student communities,
2. Diversity & Inclusion,
3. Sustainability, and
4. Social & Emotional learning.
•
FYRE will organize FYRE Associates by cluster or building instead
of by floor. This shift is in response to student and FYRE Associate
feedback. Each of the six residential clusters will have three FYRE
Associates responsible for planning engaging educational
initiatives that explore the following topics: (1) Diversity &
Inclusion, (2) Sustainability, and (3) Social & Emotional Learning.
• FYRE will continue to house all first-year students together within
the upper & lower quads as well as the east and west towers.
• FYRE will continue to focus on students as partners in creating and
shaping their first-year experience. Students will be encouraged to
engage in their community by sharing their story, their ideas,
interests, and helping advise community activities
• FYRE will continue to offer an excellent RA-to-student ratio to
ensure that each student has access to and attention from their
RA year-round.
• FYRE will continue to partner residence hall communities with FYRE
Associates to serve as resources and mentors to first-year students.
• FYRE will continue to provide opportunities for student leadership
and engagement in the residence halls (i.e. Community Councils).
• FYRE will continue to offer the large-scale, tradition events like FirstYear Friday and First-Bomber Weekend.
(rev. 6/9/16)
Basic Information – Page 3
What is FYRE?
FYRE stands for the “First-Year Residential Experience.” FYRE is an
educational community experience for all students living in firstyear residence halls.
Where is the FYRE program? What are the Residence Hall
“clusters?”
The mission of FYRE is to provide a year-long, intentional livinglearning environment that eases student transitions, develops
strong, active communities, and stimulates intellectual curiosity.
FYRE is located in six Residence Hall “Clusters” (or groups of
residence hall buildings):
1. East Tower
2. West Tower
3. Boothroyd, Rowland, & Tallcott (upper quads)
4. Hilliard, Holmes, & Hood (upper quads)
5. Eastman & Lyon (lower quads)
6. Landon, Bogart, & Clarke (lower quads)
Who lives in FYRE?
What are the amenities within FYRE?
Since Fall 2014, all incoming first-year students live in FYRE.
Transfer Students who have a first-year student status are also
welcome in FYRE!
All FYRE halls have one or more floor social lounges, a TV lounge,
laundry facilities, and a kitchen/kitchenette. See the list of all
amenities by residence hall in our Residential Life Guide:
ithaca.edu/reslife/guide/amenities
What is the mission of FYRE?
What types of rooms are in FYRE residence halls?
Students living in FYRE have the opportunity for two different
housing options. Students can elect to live in a single room where
they can have privacy when they want to, but be surrounded by
their first-year friends, or choose to live in a traditional double
room with a roommate.
(rev. 6/9/16)
FYRE Focus – Page 4
What are the focus areas of FYRE?
FYRE will focus on:
(1) Developing active and engaged student communities,
(2) Diversity & Inclusion,
(3) Sustainability, and
(4) Social & Emotional learning.
What is the purpose of FYRE?
The purpose of FYRE is to assist first-year students in finding a
community at Ithaca College. We know that incoming
students are entering with their own, varied histories,
experiences, passions, and stories; we want to encourage all
students to share their stories – to share their passions – and
contribute to a vibrant residential community just by being
themselves. We hire excellent upper-year student leaders,
staff, and faculty to serve as mentors and resources. We
provide community-building and educationally-enriching
initiatives. We offer many opportunities for students to opt-in
to great community experiences and grow with one another!
(rev. 6/9/16)
What are the FYRE Learning Outcomes?
At Ithaca College, we hope students achieve a set of learning
outcomes through a combination of interactive learning
experiences during the course of their first year. Specifically, by
the end of the year, students should be able to…
• …name three responsibilities of being an active community
member
• …identify a strength they possess that they applied towards
improving their community
• …identify three benefits of engaging with diverse perspectives
• …describe three positive practices that contribute to a
sustainable community
• … identify three ways they can adjust their actions to nurture
positive interactions
Signature Components & Traditions – Page 5
What are the benefits of FYRE?
What traditions exist for first-year students?
Live with other First-Year Students. Our FYRE program provides
the opportunity for incoming first-year students to live with one
another as a cohort and make friends.
Ithaca College offers a number of annual traditions that first-year
students can participate in!
• Engagement Points (Escalating prizes incentivizing community
involvement)
• Convocation
• Theme Kick-Off
• First Bomber Weekend
• Community Council
• Diversity Speaker: Maura Cullen
• Sustainability Challenge
• First-Year Friday
Experience an Excellent RA-to-Student Ratio. Within FYRE,
students will experience a low student-Resident Assistant (RA)
ratio so that they have access to and attention from their RA
year round.
Have Structured Points of Contact with your RA. We guarantee
at least three structured points of contact between each
student and their RA. While students and RAs will be in contact
throughout the academic year, these meetings are
opportunities to focus more specifically on transitional issues &
opportunities to engage with the community.
Benefit from FYRE Associates. The FYRE program boasts an
impressive group of Ithaca College Faculty & Staff (FYRE
Associates) who serve as resources, mentors, and guides to
communities of first-year students.
Shape your Community Experience. FYRE offers increased
opportunities for students to have voice and involvement in
shaping their community experience through engaging events
with RAs and FYRE Associates.
(rev. 6/9/16)
How can students get involved in FYRE?
There are many ways for students to get involved with FYRE and
their Residence Hall community:
1. Attend any of the events listed above!
2. Help shape the community by providing ideas or assistance in
planning events for the floor or building.
3. Join a floor group/committee.
4. Join the Residence Hall Cluster’s First-Year Council (Each FYRE
hall has a First-Year Council that serves as a leadership and
activity planning group for the community. (Interested
students should ask one of the Residential Life staff!)
5. Visit IC’s Org Fair in early fall for more opportunities.
The People of FYRE – Page 6
What is an FYRE Associate?
Who is the Residence Director (RD)?
An FYRE Associate is an Ithaca College faculty or staff member
who is assigned to a community of students living in the residence
halls. The FYRE Associate’s role is to plan engaging, educational
initiatives that explore the following topics: (1) Diversity & Inclusion,
(2) Sustainability, and (3) Social & Emotional Learning.
The RD is a full-time professional staff member who lives in the
residence halls and supervises the RA staff team. The RD is a
resource who is available to answer questions and provide
personal/academic support.
How are FYRE Associates assigned?
FYRE Associates work with communities of students based on the
residence hall cluster or building. Each of the six residence hall
clusters have three FYRE Associates… one dedicated to
educational initiatives around Diversity & Inclusion, one
dedicated to educational initiatives around Sustainability, and
one dedicated to educational initiatives around Social &
Emotional Learning.
(rev. 6/9/16)
Who is the Resident Assistant (RA)?
The RA is a upper-year student who lives in the floor community
and offers support and guidance. The RA is an excellent resource
who is available for questions and advice.
OrgSync – Page 7
What is OrgSync?
OrgSync is an online portal where students can find out about
events happening on each floor, in the building, cluster, and
across campus! OrgSync is used to provide online support to
groups (online database, common resources, event promotion &
communication, etc.) at IC - we use it for student organizations
and FYRE communities.
How do students login to OrgSync?
Students should visit: https://orgsync.com/login/ithaca-college
and enter their Ithaca College netpass and password.
(rev. 6/9/16)
Taskstream, ePortfolios, & DRFs – Page 8
What is Taskstream?
Taskstream is a software platform used by Ithaca College for student
ePortfolios and program assessment. Both ePortfolios and Directed
Response Folios (DRFs) are housed on this system.
Where can students find additional support for their Taskstream
accounts? Is there training for how to use Taskstream?
Visit: http://www.ithaca.edu/icc/eportfolio or
ithaca.edu/its/traindoc/coursemanage/taskstream/
What is an electronic learning portfolio or ePortfolio?
Do students need to submit FYRE reflections in their DRF/ePortfolio?
An electronic learning portfolio is an online collection of student work
that may be used for assessment, demonstrating accomplishments,
learning, and reflection. For the ICC, all students will complete an
electronic learning portfolio that includes both work samples and
reflections on that work.
There is no requirement for students to contribute submissions about
FYRE to their DRF/ePortfolio.
Note: Students are required to complete DRF submissions for all
components of the ICC, including the Ithaca Seminar.
For technical support, students should contact Information
Technology Services: ithaca.edu/its/ or 607-274-1000
What is a Directed Response Folio (DRF)?
For support with content for the ICC DRF, students should speak
with their Ithaca Seminar Faculty member.
DRFs, or Directed Response Folios, are structured ePortfolios. Unlike
an ePortfolio where students can personalize all the information they
include, a DRF is structured and defines what responses or reflections
students should contribute. Students will automatically see the DRF
when they log into Taskstream.
How should students access their Taskstream account?
Students can access their account by logging into myHome from
the Ithaca College website.
(rev. 6/9/16)
If students have questions about their ePortfolios, who should they
contact?
For support with content for the FYRE DRF, students should email
[email protected] or contact Jacqueline Winslow at 607-274-3141