The mission of the Educational Opportunity First Year Experience program is to provide support and advising for students who do not meet SMSU regular admission requirements, but who have been granted a conditional admission. Educational Opportunity students are advised their first year by Educational Opportunity faculty, and as a condition of their admission, enroll in IDST 110, The University Experience during their first semester. This two-credit interdisciplinary course assists students in the transition to college by exploring how they learn, enhancing life skills such as time management and organizational skills, enhancing study habits, and encouraging active learning and development of successful strategies for college.

The University Experience course is also open to any student who wishes to learn strategies to enhance his/her academic performance.