FYE is a unique opportunity offered by Nazareth College that addresses challenges surrounding the transition between high school and college life. The FYE community is located in the East Wing of Kearney Hall and the South side of Clock Tower Commons, which are ideal places to spend your first year at Nazareth College. Kearney is a corridor-style residence hall housing 254 students. Clock Tower Commons is the newest residence hall on campus and houses almost 150 students.  

In Kearney, each room is furnished with new beds, desks and chairs. There are built-in closets and dressers that provide ample storage. Clock Tower rooms have two beds, desks, dressers, desk chairs and an armoire.  Two doubles share a bathroom in Clock Tower.   FYE floors have unique community areas located on each floor that provide the perfect atmosphere for group gatherings and personal study sessions.

Kearney Hall is also furnished with a large first floor lounge, a full size community kitchen, a sand volleyball court, a 24-hour computer lab, and the FYE classroom -- all of the necessities of college life provided under one roof!  There is a similar set up in Clock Tower Commons.    There is a large lounge on each floor and the FYE classroom is on the first floor.    Both buildings are equipped for Wi-Fi.

Academic and College Success, a one-credit class required of all freshmen at Nazareth, is taught to FYE students in-residence in a specially designed classroom.  FYE students,  Resident Assistants, faculty and staff work together to form a stable, friendly and functional environment in which to live, learn, and grow.

As a part of its mission statement, FYE presents the challenge to all students to make the most of their collegiate experience. Continuing in that pursuit, FYE offers exceptional opportunities for involvement and leadership through creative programming.  The Department of Residential Life has several learning outcomes which are infused in the First Year Experience Program:

• Interpersonal Development

• Community Development

• Intercultural Competence

• Civic Engagement

As a department we are intentional in the design of our policies, programs and activities in order to further the growth of our students.   We support our learning outcomes by organizing activities and programs that specifically target the needs and developmental level of our first-year students in promoting positive relationships and social interaction. Let's face it: this is college and friendships and memories are a cornerstone of the first-year experience.  In combining the strengths of Residential Life and Academics, we believe that this program gives first-year students an advantage that can't be beat.