First Year Directions (FYD)
In the First Year Directions (FYD) Project, we embark on a groundbreaking initiative designed to expose every incoming student at the University of Miami to immersive technologies. This community experience is tightly integrated into our first-year directions curriculum, which teaches students how to transition into our academic community successfully. As part of this endeavor, we are constructing a virtual experience of the University of Miami's campus that will allow first-year students to preview their future as students at the University of Miami through the lens of virtual reality.
Students will be able to virtually tour research laboratories, gain insights into athletic programs, attend virtual concerts and plays, and more. Moreover, they will have the unique opportunity to interact with award-winning applications developed at the University, such as Mangrove City and Rescue a Reef. We expect 1,700 students to participate in the first year with the objective of familiarizing every freshman at UM with cutting-edge technologies and inspiring a cultural shift towards early adoption and normalization of these technologies in their university journey. The goal is to have all 2,300 admitted students have an immersive experience, familiarizing them with emerging technologies by year two.
