UA President Manuel Pacheco cut the ribbon while the band played "Bear Down Arizona" yesterday at a ceremony to honor the opening of the Freshman Year Center.

"If students have a good first-year experience they are more likely to stay and to graduate," Pacheco said to a crowd of about 100 people outside of Bear Down Gym.

The Freshman Year Center, located in Bear Down Gym Room 102, is designed to help freshmen make a smooth transition from high school to the university environment.

The center provides a new central location for a group of previously-existing programs such as academic advising, the Advising Center for Exploratory Students and tutoring services.

By placing programs that already existed into available space in Bear Down Gym, the university did not need to allocate new funds for the center.

"The new center brings all of these services into one place with the ease of co-operation," Pacheco said.

Sylvia Mioduski, University Learning Center director, said the Freshman Year Center combines academic affairs with student affairs in a way that serves freshmen throughout their first year experience.

"It is designed as one-stop shopping for all freshmen," she said.

Michael Gottfredson, vice president of undergraduate education, said the central location of the new center shows the university's commitment to improving the services available to undergraduates.

"The First Year Center is a welcome mat to undergraduate students," Gottfredson said. "We will deal seriously with the academic problems that confront first year students."

Derick Kurdy, a member of the Associated Students Freshman Council, said the location of the center makes all of the programs and services much more accessible.

"Having the Freshman Year Center here gives freshmen the reason and opportunity to use these services," he said. "It might make students more willing to take their future into their own hands."

In addition to individual and group academic advising, the center provides career counseling, free tutoring, and a study center. Another program designed to enhance both academic and personal development is the mentoring program for all undeclared freshmen.

Sharon Aiken-Wisniewski, freshman academic specialist, said the program matches volunteer mentors from around the campus community with freshmen who have not yet declared a major.

"When these freshmen walk onto campus, they have the name of somebody they can talk to," She said.

Aiken-Wisniewski said freshmen are encouraged but not obliged to interact with their mentors.

Hayley Oggel, psychology freshman, said her experiences with the Freshman Year Center have made the transition from high school to college a lot easier.

"As someone who has used the services, I can say it has offered guidance for academic and emotional support," Oggel said.

The Freshman Year Center is open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The study center, located in Bear Down Gym Room 200, is open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Students also can call 621-7763 for more information.

---

Daily Wildcat News Opinions Sports PoliceBeat Comics Arts