College will bring different people, new classes and fresh challenges into your life. While these changes are exciting, starting college can feel overwhelming at times. The FIRST program at the College of Staten Island (CSI) is specifically designed to help you successfully navigate these changes in your first semester.

FIRST is an innovative program that was initiated at CSI in the spring of 2003 for students who have passed all three freshman skills tests. The FIRST program is designed to provide an environment that helps students develop a sense of belonging to the CSI community by building relationships with faculty, peer mentors, and other key personnel who will assist in their academic journeys. In addition, FIRST provides specialized academic and personal support services.

• In FIRST, students enroll in a learning community of three or more linked courses. All courses in the learning community satisfy the College's general education requirements.
  
• FIRST is a collaborative effort that includes the input of faculty and various College offices. The course choices and schedules are carefully planned and are predominantly taught by full-time faculty.
  
• Students enrolled in the FIRST program receive priority registration for the next semester, allowing them greater flexibility in designing their class schedule.