First-Year Seminars/Wellness Program

FIRST-YEAR SEMINARS 2008-2009

The road to good health begins with self-responsibility.  At Colby College we are committed to promoting and enhancing the physical, interpersonal, emotional and spiritual wellness of all our students.  First-Year Seminars, offered throughout the year, focus on specific wellness topics to assist students in functioning optimally across all dimensions of their lives.  We focus on wellness as an active process that allows students to make positive choices in creating and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

All Colby students must attend lectures and complete AlcoholEdu as part of the extended orientation called First-Year Seminars (FYS).  Meeting this graduation requirement, which is certified by the Health Center, does not earn academic credit.  Failure to meet this requirement will block your ability to register for courses and/or to graduate.

In order to register for classes for second semester (first year):

§   Students must have completed AlcoholEdu

In order to register for classes for second year:

§   First-year students must have attended four lectures in the first year and have completed AlcoholEdu.

§   Mid-year entrants must attend three lectures in addition to AlcoholEdu.

§   First-year students who begin the year in Spain or France must complete AlcoholEdu and attend three lectures by the end of the first year.

§   Transfer students have the first two semesters at Colby to attend four lectures, in addition to AlcoholEdu, which must be completed in the semester they arrive on campus.  If the student has taken AlcoholEdu at their previous institution, they must submit that information to the Health Center for verification.  No other online program may substitute for AlcoholEdu (My Student Body, etc.)

Your ID card must be scanned, at the end of each lecture, for you to receive credit.  If the lecture you attended does not display on your Distribution Checklist within one week, please see Patsy Stearns in the Registrar's Office, Eustis 201.

Fall 2008 Schedule

August 2008:AlcoholEdu for College

AlcoholEdu for College is a web-based alcohol prevention program used at more than 400 colleges and universities nationwide.  AlcoholEdu for College incorporates proven prevention strategies with essential, science-based alcohol education to educate students about the impact of alcohol on the mind and body.  Whether or not you drink, AlcoholEdu for College will empower you to make well-informed decisions about alcohol and help you better cope with the drinking behavior of your peers.

ALL PROGRAMS AT 7:00 p.m. IN PAGE COMMONS, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED

Tuesday, August 26, 2008     Four Stages of Drinking– Mike Green PROGRAM BEGINS AT 7:30 p.m.
"Greeny" returns to Colby at the recommendation of previous students who highly valued his non-judgmental educational message that stresses:
-How to make responsible choices around drinking
-How to deal with peer pressure
-How to help a fellow teammate, classmate, or friend with a drinking problem
-How to set limits for yourself.

Introduction of Colby's alcohol program by substance abuse counselor
Rachel Henderson, M.R.C.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008     Program for Hall Staff, COOT leaders and SHOC 9:00-10:00 a.m., Lower Program Space

Tuesday, September 2, 2008  What Happy Faces Are Hiding; Talking About Depression – Ross Szabo
This program focuses specifically on mental health, and how the societal stereotypes can lead to increased loneliness, isolation, and suicide.  Ross uses tasteful humor and insights to help participants understand common mental health conditions and individual differences.  He also covers warning signs that students can look for in their friends and peers, as well as resources that can provide guidance in these sensitive situations.

Tuesday, September 30, 2008    The J-Spot, A Sex Educator Tells All – Jay Friedman 5:00 p.m. Tray Dinner, Fairchild Room with SHOC, SASA, HRs.
This lecture is unlike any other.  Jay has his finger on the pulse of sexual issues in our society, and tackles the toughest of topics in a refreshingly sex-positive way.  

Monday ,October 30, 2008    Happy Hour – Comedy With a Twist – Bernie McGrenahan   8:00 p.m. Page Commons, Meet with Team Captains & Athletic Director.
This presentation is thirty minutes of stand-up comedy followed by thirty minutes of impactful message on alcohol misuse.  Bernie applauds the "social norm" or majority of students who do make smart choices regarding alcohol.  His message motivates and inspires students to "be responsible."

Tuesday ,January 20, 2009     HIV Positive Life – Scott Fried
Through this presentation, Scott seeks to increase HIV/AIDS awareness with the hope of reducing the rate of HIV infection.  Scott's focus is on love and self-respect relative to growing up in the age of AIDS.  This is Scott's sixth year at Colby due to positive student evaluations.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009    Life Without Ed – Jenni Schaefer
Jenni had been in an abusive relationship with Ed.  Ed's name comes from the initials E.D., as in 'eating disorder'.  Ed was controlling and manipulative; she had him but would not leave him.  Jenni learned to think of her eating disorder as an individual personality separate from her own.  In doing so, she was able to break up with Ed once and for all.

 
More lectures are to be announced in Spring 2009