UNCA's Sarah Bumgarner Honored for Work with College Freshmen; Named One of Ten Outstanding First-Year Student Advocates in the Nation

UNC Asheville’s First-Year Experience Program Director Sarah Bumgarner recently received national recognition for her exceptional work with new college students. Bumgarner was named one of 10 outstanding advocates in the nation for first-year students by the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition and the Houghton Mifflin Co. The award was presented at a formal ceremony in Orlando, Fla. Sunday evening as part of the 21st annual National Conference on the First-Year Experience.

"Sarah Bumgarner has been a first-year student advocate of extraordinary vision, commitment, energy and effectiveness," said UNCA Chancellor James Mullen. "Her leadership has enabled a broad coalition of faculty and staff to guide incoming new students toward the goal of an undergraduate experience that is fulfilling in all its aspects. UNCA is very proud that Sarah has been recognized with this award."

Bumgarner, who is also a lecturer in UNCA’s Economics department, joined the faculty in 1990. She has served as the director of UNCA’s First-Year Experience Program since its inception in 1996.

"I’m incredibly honored to receive this award but the real credit goes to the faculty and staff who work with our first-year students, who take them out of town to museums and who have them to their homes for chili dinners," said Bumgarner. "The move from high school to college is a tough transition for the best of students. The First-Year Experience Program steps in and introduces our students to the culture of university life."

UNCA’s First-Year Experience Program offers an innovative approach to helping new freshman successfully acclimate to college life and to build bridges between campus and the surrounding community. The program offers a series of specially designed courses that integrate first-year content into introductory classes in writing, economics, biology and other subject areas. First-year topics range from effective time management and career exploration to learning outside the classroom and surviving final exams. In addition, there is a semester-long series of weekly seminars that focus on broader issues, such as working and living with people from different backgrounds.

First-Year Experience classes are kept to about 15 students. The smaller class size allows for better discussions as well as group trips off campus to volunteer, see films or attend plays.

"The class atmosphere was very open; I enjoyed sharing and getting to know my classmates," said sophomore honors student Beth Matteson. "One of my favorite activities was a class trip to explore downtown Asheville. As an out-of-town student, it really helped me feel like a part of the community."

Volunteerism is also a focus. New students join faculty and staff for "Bulldog Day: A Time of Service" prior to the first day of classes. This one-day event places some 500 students, faculty and staff into the community to volunteer at dozens of local non-profit organizations.

Senior environmental science major Tara Hammond appreciated the volunteer opportunities that the First-Year Experience Program emphasized. "I volunteered at the Western North Carolina Nature Center during Bulldog Day and loved it," she said. "I went back several more times to help out."

Each year during Bulldog Day, UNCA Literature & Language Professor Peter Caulfield takes his First-Year Experience students to work with students at Hillcrest Head Start Center. Later in the semester the students return to the Center for more out-of-class learning, which offers a springboard for discussion on issues of race and class.

"Discussing challenging issues and working together off campus acts as bonding experiences for the students. I see them delving into the college experience together and then forming lasting friendships," said Caulfield. "It’s been very gratifying to be involved with such an excellent program."

Media Contacts:

• Tom Byers, UNCA Executive Assistant to the Chancellor, 828/251-6716
• Jill Yarnall, UNCA Public Information Assistant Director, 828/251-6526