Frequently Asked Questions: Table of Contents
Table of Contents – PAGE 1
FYRE Context – PAGE 2
What is FYRE?
What is the mission of FYRE?
Who lives in FYRE?
When did FYRE begin?
Where is the FYRE program? What are the Residence Hall “clusters?”
What are the FYRE Learning Outcomes?
FYRE Benefits – PAGE 3
What are the benefits of FYRE?
What are the amenities within FYRE?
What types of rooms are in the FYRE residence halls?
How can students get involved in FYRE?
The People of FYRE – PAGE 4
What is an FYRE Associate?
Who is my FYRE Associate?
Who is my Residence Director (RD)?
What is the difference between a “floor” and “theme” RA?
How are FYRE Associates & Theme RAs assigned?
The Integrative Core Curriculum (ICC) – PAGE 5
What are the Integrative Core Curriculum (ICC) Themes?
Where can students find out which theme they are in?
How do students declare their theme?
How do students switch their theme?
What are the ICC requirements?
What is the difference between the ICC and FYRE?
Theme Events & Attendance Expectations – PAGE 6
What is a theme program/event?
How do students find out about FYRE theme events?
What are students expected to do in FYRE?
Can a student attend programs in a different residence hall cluster or within
a different ICC theme?
OrgSync – PAGE 7
What is OrgSync?
How do I login?
Taskstream, ePortfolios, & DRFs – PAGE 8
What is Taskstream?
What is an electronic learning portfolio or ePortfolio?
What is a Directed Response Folio (DRF)?
How should students access their Taskstream account?
Where can students find support for Taskstream?
Do students need to submit FYRE reflections in their DRF?
If students have questions about their ePortfolios, who should they contact?
FYRE Context – Page 2
What is FYRE?
FYRE stands for the “First-Year Residential Experience.” FYRE is an
educational community experience for all students living in firstyear residence halls.
Where is the FYRE program? What are the Residence Hall
“clusters?”
The mission of FYRE is to provide a year-long, intentional livinglearning environment where first-year students can make a
successful transition to the Ithaca College Community.
FYRE is located in six Residence Hall “Clusters” (or groups of
residence hall buildings):
1. East Tower
2. West Tower
3. Boothroyd, Rowland, & Tallcott (upper quads)
4. Hilliard, Holmes, & Hood (upper quads)
5. Eastman & Lyon (lower quads)
6. Landon & Bogart (lower quads)
Who lives in FYRE?
What are the FYRE Learning Outcomes?
All incoming first-year students live in FYRE beginning in Fall 2014.
Transfer Students who have a first-year student status are also
welcome in FYRE!
At Ithaca College, we hope students achieve a set of learning
outcomes through a combination of interactive learning
experiences during the course of their first year. Specifically, the
FYRE program strives to contribute to the following student
learning outcomes:
1. Have meaningful interactions with peers, faculty, and staff in
and outside of the classroom.
2. Achieve academic success in the first year of college.
3. Engage diverse and competing perspectives as a resource
for learning, citizenship, and work.
4. Understand how to lead healthy and sustainable lifestyles.
What is the mission of FYRE?
When did FYRE begin?
FYRE has been at Ithaca College for quite some time. 2013-14
was the first academic year it existed in connection with the
Integrative Core Curriculum (ICC) and 2014-15 is the first time
FYRE will include the entire, incoming first-year class.
FYRE Benefits – Page 3
What are the benefits of FYRE?
Live with other First-Year Students. The FYRE program provides the
opportunity for incoming first-year students to live with one
another as a cohort and benefit from the community.
Experience an Excellent RA to Student Ratio. Students living in
FYRE have personalized attention, guidance, and mentorship
from a highly-selective and highly-trained group of upperdivision student leaders at a ratio of about 1:22.
Have Structured Points of Contact with your RA. We guarantee
at least three structured points of contact between each
student and their RA. While students and RAs will touch base
informally throughout the academic year, these meetings are
opportunities to focus more specifically on transitional issues &
academic goals.
Benefit from FYRE Associates. The FYRE program boasts an
impressive group of Ithaca College Faculty & Staff (FYRE
Associates) who serve as resources, mentors, and guides for a
first-year student’s theme exploration and transition to IC.
Connect (even more) with your ICC Theme. Every incoming
student at Ithaca College selects an ICC theme to explore
during the course of their undergraduate career. This exploration
occurs both in and outside of class through carefully planned
FYRE Theme Events hosted by FYRE Associates and RAs.
What are the amenities within FYRE?
All FYRE halls have one or more floor social lounges, a TV lounge,
laundry facilities, and a kitchen/kitchenette. See the list of all
amenities by residence hall in our Residential Life Guide:
ithaca.edu/reslife/guide/amenities
What types of rooms are in FYRE residence halls?
Students living in FYRE have the opportunity for two different
housing options. Students can elect to live in a single room
where they can have privacy when they want to, but be
surrounded by their first-year friends, or choose to live in a
traditional double room.
How can students get involved in FYRE?
There are many ways for students to get involved with FYRE and
their Residence Hall community:
1. Participate in the Labor Day Weekend events
2. Attend Theme Events
3. Join your Residence Hall Cluster’s First-Year Council (Each
FYRE hall has a First-Year Council that serves as a leadership
and activity planning group for the community. If you are
interested, ask one of the Residential Life staff at check in!)
4. Visit IC’s Org Fair in early fall for more opportunities
The People of FYRE – Page 4
What is an FYRE Associate?
What is the difference between a “floor” and “theme” RA?
An FYRE Associate is an Ithaca College faculty or staff member
who is assigned by theme to a group of students living in a
particular residential area. The FYRE Associate’s role is to serve as
a mentor and resource to First-Year students in addition to
planning fun & educational events connected to the ICC themes.
A floor RA is a student leader who is responsible for a community
of residents that live on a common floor. A Theme RA similarly has
a floor of students they are responsible for, but also helps host
theme programs with the FYRE Associate. In most cases, the
Theme RA and Floor RA are two different student leaders; but, it
can be the same person.
Who is my FYRE Associate?
You can find out who your FYRE Associate is many ways:
(1) Check OrgSync! OrgSync is an online portal where you can
connect with other students in your ICC Theme and find out
more about upcoming Theme Events. Visit:
https://orgsync.com/login/ithaca-college
(2) Check your email! All students receive regular emails from their
FYRE Associate, Theme RA, and the FYRE program.
(3) Check the FYRE Associate list! We list all FYRE Associates, their
themes, and assigned buildings at ithaca.edu/fyre.
(4) Contact Residential Life! Talk to your RA, call our office at 607274-3141, or email FYRE@ithaca.edu
Who is my Residence Director (RD)?
The RD is a full-time professional staff member who lives in the
residence halls and supervises the RA staff team. The RD is a
resource who is available for your questions and
personal/academic support.
How are FYRE Associates and Theme RAs assigned?
Every first-year student in FYRE has both an ICC theme and an
FYRE residence hall assignment. Based on where a student lives
and what theme they have chosen at orientation, the Office of
Residential Life assigns an FYRE Associate and 1-3 RAs to work
with a group of students. For example, all students living in the
West Tower who are part of the Mind, Body, Spirit theme work
with an FYRE Associate and a couple RAs who serve as mentors,
educational programmers, resources, and guides for students’
theme exploration outside of class.
The Integrative Core Curriculum (ICC) – Page 5
What are the Integrative Core Curriculum (ICC) Themes?
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Identities
Inquiry, Imagination, & Innovation (Triple I)
Mind, Body, Spirit
The Quest for a Sustainable Future (Questers)
A World of Systems
Power and Justice
Where can students find out which theme they are in?
If students do not know their theme, they should check their
degree evaluation.
How do students declare their theme?
Visit: ithaca.edu/registrar/students/icctheme/
How do students switch their theme?
Students who wish to change their declared ICC theme should
go to ithaca.edu/registrar/students/icctheme/ and complete a
new theme declaration form. Students who wish to talk about
potential theme changes can make an appointment with their
academic advisor or with the Academic Advising Center
(ithaca.edu/advising).
What are the ICC requirements?
What is the difference between students’ themes and their
seminars?
The link below will take you to an overview of the ICC requirements
in their entirety. For detailed information about each requirement
see the additional information sections (e.g. themes, diversity,
writing) linked from the ICC Quick Summary page:
ithaca.edu/icc/iccquicksummary
What is the difference between the ICC and FYRE?
The ICC is a set of liberal arts requirements that comprise the
common academic experience for all IC students. Students must
complete their ICC requirements to graduate. For an overview of
the ICC requirements, visit: ithaca.edu/icc
FYRE is a residential experience designed to help first-year students
further explore their ICC theme and develop connections with
peers/staff/faculty. Students must live on campus as a first-year
student but do not have any academic or graduation
requirements attached to their participation in FYRE.
Theme Events & Attendance Expectations – Page 6
What is a theme program/event?
A Theme Event is an event hosted by an FYRE Associate and
theme RA. These are community-based, educational programs
that directly connect with a student’s ICC theme and the learning
outcomes associated with FYRE. In every FYRE residence hall
cluster, FYRE Associates and theme RAs host a total of eight (8)
Theme Events within each of the six ICC themes. That means,
minimally, 48 theme events are hosted in each of the six FYRE
residence hall clusters each year. Over the course of an academic
year, that’s about 300 Theme Events hosted for first-year students
by Ithaca College Faculty & Staff.
How do students find out about FYRE Theme Events?
All FYRE Theme Programs are advertised as follows:
1) Email directly to the student from the FYRE Associate, Theme RA,
and/or FYRE
2) OrgSync calendar & notifications
3) Program flyers within the residence halls
4) On the FYRE event website:
ithaca.edu/reslife/specialty/firstyear/events/
Some programs are also advertised through Facebook.
Additionally, students can always talk to their RA, email
FYRE@ithaca.edu, or call Residential Life at 607-274-3141 with
questions.
What are students expected to do in FYRE?
How many theme programs are students supposed to
attend?
What happens if students do not go to a theme program?
We encourage students to participate in as many opportunities
within FYRE as possible. Minimally, we encourage students to:
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Attend two Theme Events per semester
Document at least one Theme Event experience in their
ePortfolio
Meet with their RA three times during the year
If a student chooses not to participate in FYRE, a staff member
from Residential Life will follow up to encourage future
participation. There is no penalty for not participating.
Can a student attend programs in a different residence hall
cluster or within a different ICC theme?
Yes! We do encourage students to attend programs hosted by
their FYRE Associate and Theme RA because a big part of FYRE is
developing a relationship with those Ithaca Faculty and Staff
members; however, we know that sometimes these events won’t
fit a student’s schedule and therefore welcome any first-year
student at any theme program.
OrgSync – Page 7
What is OrgSync?
OrgSync is an online portal where you can find out about Theme
Events, helpful resources, and connect with other students in your
ICC theme. OrgSync is used to manage groups and, at IC, we
use it for student organizations and ICC theme groups.
How do I login?
Visit: https://orgsync.com/login/ithaca-college and enter your Ithaca
College netpass and password
Taskstream, ePortfolios, & DRFs – Page 8
What is Taskstream?
Taskstream is a software platform used by Ithaca College for
student ePortfolios and program assessment. Both ePortfolios and
Directed Response Folios (DRFs) are housed on this system.
What is an electronic learning portfolio or ePortfolio?
An electronic learning portfolio is an online collection of student
work that may be used for assessment, demonstrating
accomplishments, learning, and reflection. For the ICC, all students
will complete an electronic learning portfolio that includes both
work samples and reflections on that work.
What is a Directed Response Folio (DRF)?
DRFs, or Directed Response Folios, are structured ePortfolios. Unlike
an ePortfolio where students can personalize all the information
they include, a DRF is structured by Ithaca Faculty or Staff who
define what responses or reflections students should contribute.
Students who are enrolled in programs using a DRF (e.g. the ICC &
Education majors) will automatically see the DRF when they log
into Taskstream.
How should students access their Taskstream account [to create
ePortfolios and submit contributions to the DRF]?
Students can access their account by logging into myHome from
the Ithaca College website.
Where can students find additional support for their Taskstream
accounts? Is there training for how to use Taskstream?
Visit: ithaca.edu/its/traindoc/coursemanage/taskstream/
Do students need to submit FYRE reflections in their DRF/ePortfolio?
There is no requirement for students to contribute submissions about
FYRE to their DRF/ePortfolio. However, we do encourage students
to reflect on at least one FYRE experience through taskstream by
the end of their first year.
Note: Students are required to complete DRF submissions for the
Ithaca Seminar beginning in fall 2013.
If students have questions about their ePortfolios, who should they
contact?
For technical support, students should contact Information
Technology Services: ithaca.edu/its/ or 607-274-1000
For support with content for the ICC DRF, students should speak
with their Ithaca Seminar Faculty member.
For support with content for the FYRE DRF, students should email
FYRE@ithaca.edu or contact their Residence Director.