Holy Cross '2YO' Program Ensures Second-Year Students Make Most of College Career

WORCESTER, Mass. – For the second year in a row, faculty at the College of the Holy Cross are strongly encouraging second-year students to participate in the institution's rich elective program offerings through the Second-Year Opportunities Program, or 2YO.

There is more to the three years remaining in a sophomore’s college life than successful completion of the degree requirements, which include 32 intensive courses in eight semesters of full-time study at Holy Cross, according to Victoria L. Swigert, a member of this year's 2YO organizing committee and assistant dean of the Class of 2008.

The program apprises sophomores of the range of resources and opportunities available to students, encourages them to think about how these resources and opportunities fit with their own interests and goals, and helps them to plan accordingly.

"Minors, concentrations, study away and abroad, special academic and advisory programs, internships, college and departmental honors programs, and post-baccalaureate opportunities are among the ways students can distinguish their undergraduate careers," said Swigert.

The 2YO program, and all of its specifics, is one of the few of its kind.

This fall’s program consists of four events, two of which have been completed. The first, second-year advising was a meeting between second-year students and their advisor. The meeting was less about course selection for the fall semester and more about helping sophomores reflect on the experience of their first year toward planning for the three to come. The second, Academic Extravaganza allowed second-year students to browse displays showcasing the academic offerings at Holy Cross and to talk with program directors and department chairs.

The two remaining events stress the value of persistence in an ever-evolving and challenging world. Dr. Paul Farmer, founder of Partners in Health, a small public charity, will address second-year students on Oct. 5 at 7:30 p.m. in Hogan Ballroom in the Hogan Campus Center. Dr. Farmer is the subject of Tracy Kidder’s recent book, Mountains Beyond Mountains, which the students were assigned to read during the summer. On Nov. 9 students are invited to " ‘Beyond Mountains There Are Mountains:’ Where do you want to go?" The conversation will be guided by academic and professional staff on the relevance of Farmer’s extraordinary life and work to the second-year experience.

A curriculum review group started at the College several years ago deemed it was necessary to stress the importance of a strong integrated college experience.

"The rationale for 2YO was recognition that sophomores are a transitional cohort," she said. "First-year students have all sorts of advisory assistance — orientation, mandatory advising appointments at the beginning of the semester, the first-year program. Over the past decade there has been an explosion of academic programs — minors, concentrations, study away and abroad programs, honors programs, and the list goes on. Students need to know about these opportunities and they need to plan for them — and early in their academic careers.

"Second year is also one of high anxiety, as original curricular choices prove to have been the wrong ones, or students are clueless about what direction they want to take, and parents are worried about what their sons and daughters are going ‘to do’ with a major in 'whatever.' "

The Lilly Endowment provided financial support for the initiative through a grant to help students reflect on their vocation. 2YO gives students means to think about how a variety of academic programs can help fulfill their life and career choices.

"With Holy Cross’ very special mission to educate men and women for others, money from the Lilly Endowment supports the program in its emphasis on helping students to reflect on the connection between their academic programs, life and career choices, and the mission of the College."