The First Year Read (FYR) is part of the New Student Orientation Program (NSO) and will be an important part of some of the first class discussions in your first year Humanities Base courses. It is your first step into the primary activities that makes UD a community of higher learning: reading; critical reflection; open and honest discussion; analysis; and, writing. These academic activities lie at the heart of the life at the University of Dayton.

The UD 2011 FYR is This I Believe: The Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women edited by Jay Allison and Dan Gediman. We are reading volume one. This book is a collection of eighty different statements of individual principles written by famous and unknown contributors. It is based on the popular National Public Radio series of the same name.  Each essay completes the thought that begins with “This I believe…” This collection presents the hearts and minds of a diverse group of people, both past and present, whose beliefs reveal the American spirit at its best. It has been described as “practical yet reflective, varied yet familiar, human yet universal” and yet it teaches without preaching. Each piece invites the reader to rethink not only how they have arrived at their own personal beliefs but also the extent to which they share those beliefs with others.

To introduce students to university academic expectations through activities including reading, discussion, and writing.

 

To help you analyze where your beliefs come from.

To help you to identify the value of investigating the beliefs of others.

To you to articulate your beliefs

 

The FY Read is a shared learning experience for all University of Dayton first-year students. 

 

All incoming students are required to purchase and read the book This I Believe (first edition). You are also required to complete an assignment to hand in.  The assignment has two parts. Part I is a reflection paper and Part II is to read additional essays for the discussion during New Student Orientation. For more information continue to check this web site.  Click the Assignment button to the right to read more and get your Reflection form.  Students should be prepared to discuss the book, the additional essays and turn in their assignment during Small Group Discussion 4 of New Student Orientation Week.