Your Southern Start (YSS) Summer Institute

The YSS Summer Institute prepares incoming Owls to not only succeed but excel during their first semester of college and beyond. This program offers first-year students the opportunity to learn important academic skills & strategies, prepare for the rigors of college-level courses, and foster & develop a sense of community on campus.

The Benefits of YSS Summer Institute

Students who join and complete the YSS Summer Institute will:

Start their first semester with an improved and strengthened academic foundation
Connect with like-minded peers and ease the transition into the SCSU community
Develop their math and writing skills through faculty-led workshops
Opportunity to complete MAT-100P early and, with a passing grade, earn 3 academic credits before the fall semester begins
Have their math ALEKS program code paid for (a $70 value)
Begin MAT-100P early to get ahead in the course before the semester begins
Learn and practice academic success skills and strategies necessary for college-level courses
Develop essential skills and strategies for math and writing success
Develop a better understanding of accessibility services and the accommodations process
Become familiarized with the services and resources provided by the Center for Academic Success and Accessibility Services
Be able to move into their residence halls early for YSS Summer Institute

While academic readiness is key, we believe in balancing academics with fun through engaging activities. Academic sessions include Syllabus 101, Study Skills, Career Readiness, and How to Talk to Your Professors, ensuring students are well-prepared for their time at SCSU. To complement these workshops, we offer interactive and creative activities such as esports challenges, vision board creation, tie-dye sessions, and an end-of-program ice cream celebration for a sweet send-off.

Program Dates

July 7 -August 6, 2026
Monday-Thursday

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is YSS Summer Institute mandatory for incoming first-year students to attend?

YSS Summer Institute is not mandatory for incoming first-year students. However, there are plenty of benefits to participating in this experience!

What is MAT-100P? How do I know if I was placed into it?

Southern requires all students to complete math courses to fulfill the general education and major requirements – one of the courses that students can be placed into is MAT-100P. If you have further questions regarding placements and MAT-100P, visit the Math Placements website.

I will be commuting to campus in the fall. Can I register for YSS Summer Institute and is it required that I stay on campus?

YSS Summer Institute is a day program, so it is NOT required for you to stay on campus. If you will be living on campus in the fall, you can move into your residence hall early for YSS Summer Institute. You will receive more information on what that process looks like closer to the program's start!

What are my transportation options if I am a commuter student attending YSS Summer Institute?

If you are commuting to YSS Summer Institute, some transportation options are available to you as an SCSU student. The U-Pass is a special transportation pass for all enrolled undergraduate students that you can receive through the University Card Office. This pass provides you unlimited access to mass transit services within CT. This is FREE of charge!

Center for Academic Success and Accessibility Services (CASAS)