The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences takes pride in the academic and scholarly support of students in its College. An example of that effort is our first year Foundation courses taught by Public Communication professors with the support of upper class peer teaching assistants. A primary objective of these courses is to help students make a smooth transition from high school to college and to successfully engage in a higher education community. In addition, these two semester courses helps students build a strong foundation in public speaking and information technology competencies that are a key to their success at UVM and beyond. First year students often form lasting relationships within their small peer teaching assistant groups, which further enhances their adjustment to campus life.