University convenes first statewide learning
community conference in Northern California

Sacramento State’s First Year Programs Office, in collaboration with the California Learning Communities Consortium (CLCC) and the First-Year Experience Committee at Sacramento State, is set to convene “Partnerships and Practices: the 2008 First-Year Experience Regional Conference” Tuesday, Aug. 26, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. in the University Union.

The hallmark event will bring together faculty, staff, students, and administrators statewide to share strategies and showcase best practices in the effort to ensure student success. That effort has particular importance to students of color, says David Leon, chair of the Ethnic Studies Department.

“Research shows that many students of color have a higher attrition rate, but it appears that students involved in an intensive first-year program are more likely to be successful in their second year,” Leon says. “Ethnic Studies is participating to share our success with our freshman seminar course—Ethnic Studies 21—and to learn from experts around the state.

“If we can replicate positive, progressive and effective first-year programs statewide we may be able to amplify student success at our college and throughout the state,” Leon says.

Selected in 1997 as one of the first campuses in the state to be included in the Washington Center on Improving the Quality of Undergraduate Education learning communities’ pilot project, Sacramento State has emerged as a leader in the implementation and study of first-year initiatives and collaborative learning practice. Student Academic Success director Marcellene Watson says it is the University’s time to showcase the hard work of students, staff, faculty, administrators and researchers. 

“This event represents an opportunity to showcase the best practices of programs developed at Sacramento State in conjunction with other colleges and universities,” Watson says. “Sacramento State has played an important leadership role in launching new and innovative initiatives and has one of the largest First-Year Experience programs in the California State University.”

Highlighting the conference proceedings are more than 31 workshops, many presented by University faculty. Topics include technology, assessment, student engagement, diversity, freshman seminar pedagogy, and student excellence. The keynote address will be given by Betsy Barefoot, the co-director for the Policy Center on the First Year of College.

For more information, contact the First-Year Programs office at 278-2804 or go to http://webapps2.csus.edu/saseep/eop/FYE2008/default.asp.