AUDIO FSU Headlines: Radio Aug. 25, 2008 FSU's Brilliant Freshmen — Florida State University's 2008 Freshman class is already setting records

Brilliant. Impressive. Dazzling. All of the above — and more — apply to this fall's incoming Seminoles, the class of 2012.

The average freshman accepted into FSU boasts a high school grade point average of 4.0, an SAT score of 1261 (in critical reading and math) or an ACT of 28. These new students are not only at the very top of their high school class, they are arguably FSU's most brilliant, impressive and dazzling freshmen to date.

Often citing this upward trend is FSU President T.K. Wetherell, who earned his first FSU degree in education more than 40 years ago with the Class of '67. "I'm glad I applied back then," he says with a wry grin.

To help such high-achieving students build on the momentum of their qualifying excellence, FSU offers an impressive array of services to support and maximize opportunities for continued learning and success.

The Office of New Student and Family Programs, First Year Experience, Greek Life, Student Rights and Responsibilities, Withdrawals, Victim Advocate Program, and the Student Disability Resource Center all operate within the auspices of the Dean of Students Department, which is dedicated to the Seminole Creed and assisting students in exemplifying its mores.

As members of the FSU Community, students promise to live by the creed's eight values — truthfulness, respect, excellence, freedom of speech and inquiry, diversity, justice, citizenship and discovery — and the Dean of Students department assists through crisis management, advocating for students and developing students' leadership skills.

Further encouraging each student to exemplify FSU's core ethics, the International Center (IC) highlights diversity. People from all over the world share FSU's campus. The IC facilitates the growth of international education on campus and in the community and provides comprehensive immigration services to international students, scholars, faculty and staff. Designated by the U.S. Department of State as an Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor, FSU brings in foreign students, scholars & researchers. The IC also contributes to campus internationalization efforts. Students can get involved through internship and volunteer opportunities, get matched with an international student, serve as an ambassador or share talents at the IC programs.

Students are encouraged to share their own diverse, rich cultures within the community, as well. The Office of Multicultural Affairs provides advocacy, support services and culturally based programs that educate students on diversity, multiculturalism and social justice. Through these programs, students can acquire a better appreciation for one another's differences.

In an effort to continue to celebrate diversity instead of letting differences get in the way of education, the Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE) is an academic support unit that assists the University in its outreach and support to undergraduate students who may be disadvantaged due to economic, educational or cultural circumstances. Participants are provided student mentors who work directly with a group of students to help guide, counsel and assist them.

The Division of Student Affairs also strives to advance effective leadership and responsible citizenship. Its Center for Leadership and Civic Education engages students, staff and faculty in community-based learning through leadership and service. For students, the Center serves as the campus clearinghouse for leadership and service opportunities in the Big Bend area and beyond. Students can learn about themselves as individuals and use that information to discover how to contribute to a peer, group or community.

Developing leadership and service with the support of the Career Center, students often find they have taken a definitive step toward landing their dream jobs. The Career Center has creatively developed an effective, collaborative, interdepartmental array of career services for students, alumni, employers, faculty, staff and other members of the FSU community. Services include career advising, career center library guides, career development classes, career expos, career placement, career portfolios, internships, externships, mock interviews, on-campus interviews, Seminole Link — an online networking resource — and workshops.

The Division of Student Affairs works hard, but it knows how to play, as well. Through Campus Recreation, students are invited to explore improved health, well-being, development and education for students, faculty and staff through recreational activity. Campus Rec provides sports through its intramural, extramural, aquatic, fitness and outdoor pursuits programs, as well as the FSU Reservation and Bobby E. Leach Center.

In addition to Campus Rec offerings, the Oglesby Union (OU) is the hub of services, programming and entertainment. The OU provides everyday services and conveniences for the collegiate community. Students can get involved through the Art Center, Club Downunder, Crenshaw Lanes, Flying High Circus, late night programming, Oglesby Union Art Gallery, Student Activities Center, Askew Student Life Cinema and Union Productions.

As their own home away from home, University Housing provides a high-quality living environment in support of the academic goals and personal development of its 7,200 undergraduate and graduate residents. Its offerings include special developmental programs within the residence halls, along with helpful and supportive staff, faculty interaction, academic support, leadership development and employment opportunities.

Through peer representation, Student Government Association gives Seminoles a voice in some of the University's most important decisions. Within its various branches, such as the executive, judicial and legislative, SGA is run solely by students and is charged with allocating student activity fees.

Feeling under the weather? Thagard Student Health Center provides healthcare, prevention, education and outreach services to the student population in a safe and supportive environment. Thagard patient visits are free with an FSU Card, and treatments or prescriptions can be taken care of conveniently at the health center. Out-patient services include Allergy Clinic, Anonymous HIV Clinic, General Medical Care, Immunizations, Minor Surgeries, Nutrition Counseling, Pharmacy, Sexual Transmitted Infections Testing, Triage, Women's Care and more.

Should college life become unduly stressful, the University Counseling Center provides support to help students grow and develop emotionally, interpersonally and intellectually. Currently registered students with an FSU Card are eligible for free services at the UCC, including mental health, individual counseling, group counseling, crisis intervention, drug and alcohol, R.E.N.E.W. — a peer health-education group — referrals, workshops and presentations, a team approach to the treatment of eating disorders and Safe Zone.

The Division of Student Affairs is here to serve. Visit <studentaffairs.fsu.edu> for more information about these offerings and ways to get involved on campus.

Also visit:

Campus Recreation at fsu.campusrec.com
Career Center at career.fsu.edu
Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement at care.fsu.edu
Center for Leadership and Civic Education at thecenter.fsu.edu
Dean of Students at deanofstudents.fsu.edu
International Center at ic.fsu.edu
Office of Multicultural Affairs at oma.fsu.edu
Oglesby Union at union.fsu.edu
Student Government Association at fsu.edu/~sga
Thagard Student Health Center at tshc.fsu.edu
University Housing at housing.fsu.edu