STEP 1102: Create Your UW

First Year Experience Course

STEP 1102: Create Your UW  is a dynamic, interactive course designed to help first-year students navigate their transition to college by crafting a personalized university experience. Using design thinking principles, students will develop essential skills to connect with campus resources, enhance academic success, and support personal wellness. Through engaging activities and collaborative projects, students will explore their unique interests and talents while learning strategies for information literacy, academic success, personal growth & wellness, and purposeful engagement in campus opportunities.

  • optional 1-credit course
  • course ends four weeks before other classes
  • students form strong bonds with one another
  • smaller classroom settings
  • some sections are paired with Living Learning Communities (LLCs) -- share a class with your neighbors
  • Addresses personal, social and academic growth

Info for Students

Info for Faculty

Meet Our Team

A Venn Diagram showing the differences between STEP 1102 and Saddle Up. The first is optional; second is required. First has a letter grade; second is pass/fail; First is all about exploring student self-interests; second is a weeklong entry to college with a five day class; first lasts twelve weeks; second lasts one week. What they have in common is they both introduce UW resources, provide social, academic, and professional connections, and help students develop appreciation for diversity.

Helpful Assignments

I thought the assignments were very helpful and they helped me to look forward into my future and prepare me to be a successful college student.

A Relationship with Each Student

[My instructors] make it so that each and every lesson is fun and they make sure that we all leave with more knowledge of a topic. They have a relationship with each student and aren't afraid to make sure we are not settling.

Highly Recommend

It was a great experience and I would highly, highly, highly recommend it to any incoming freshman.

Smoother Transition

It was a great course and I'm glad I took it because it help me transition in the university smoother. Also it helped me with how to get around and what all there was to do in my free time or in order to get help with my academics.

Be Ourselves

[My instructor] provided a safe place to learn and be ourselves. She is really compassionate, open, and understanding. She makes the class feel very comfortable and at ease throughout her instructions. She also always makes class interesting.

By the Numbers

This course includes three learning outcomes: Learning about Learning, the Brown & Gold Experience, and Personal Growth and Wellness. Enjoy some other facts about the class.

20%
Percentage of first-year, first-semester students taking STEP 1102 Fall 2025.
15
Average number of students per section of STEP 1102 in Fall 2025
738
Number of students who took STEP 1102 between 2019 and 2024.