11. First Year Experience

The First Year Experience Program offers programming for first-year students that is designed to ease the transition from high school to college and facilitate academic and personal success at UTSA.

All first-year college students participate in a comprehensive First Year Experience Program designed to help transition to university life. In UTSA’s First-Year Experience Program, students will participate in a Peer Mentor Program and complete an Academic Introduction and Strategies (AIS) course, a Core Curriculum course designed to orient first-year students to the different fields of study within an Academic Pathway while enhancing essential academic skills such as critical thinking and communication skills. Additionally, peer mentors connect students to various campus events designed to enhance the success of first-year students.

College Success Seminar (CSS) Courses

CSS 1201. College Success Seminar. (1-0) 1 Credit Hour.

A course to help students improve college-level study skills and mastery learning techniques based on current research. This course is taught within the Student Success Coaching Program. May be repeated. Course Fees: DL01 $25.

CSS 1202. College Success Seminar. (2-0) 2 Credit Hours.

A course to help students improve college-level study skills and mastery learning techniques based on current research. This course is taught within the Student Success Coaching Program. May be repeated. Course Fees: DL01 $50.

CSS 1203. College Success Seminar. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours.

A course to help students improve college-level study skills and mastery learning techniques based on current research. This course is taught within the Student Success Coaching Program. May be repeated.

University Peer Mentorship (UPM) Courses

UPM 1000. University Peer Mentorship Experience. (0-0) 0 Credit Hours.

The University Peer Mentorship Experience provides a peer-mentor who will help students navigate campus life at UTSA. Students will have an opportunity to develop a broader understanding of UTSA by participating in programming designed to assist in the academic and social transition from high school to college. This Experience is limited to first- and second-semester freshmen and freshmen transfer students. The Experience is completed during the semester immediately following or prior to completion of AIS 1203, AIS 1213, AIS 1223, AIS 1233, AIS 1243, AIS 1253, AIS 1263, or AIS 1273.