is the First Year Experience Program?
The First Year Experience Program (FYE) consists of the University Learning Community Program (LCOM) and First Year Seminar Courses.

  is a First Year Seminar? Open to all freshmen, the First Year Seminar is a 3 unit academic course that fulfills the Area E requirement for General Education. The course addresses the practical, theoretical, and self-reflective requirements and outcomes of becoming an educated person. Topics include teaching and learning at the University, career exploration, information technology, and the role of culture and diversity in academic study. Class size is limited to 25 students. A complete syllabus can be found at: www.csus.edu/acaf/ge/freshmanPrograms/freshmanseminar.stm

  is the University Learning Community Program?
The University Learning Community Program consists of more than 30 themed clusters of courses designed to satisfy General Education or Academic Major Requirements. A learning community consists of a group of 25 students that are concurrently enrolled in 2 or 3 courses together. Some but not all learning communities contain First Year Seminars. Faculty teaching in a learning community work together to connect course topics and assignments. A current list of learning communities can be found at: www.csus.edu/schedule/fall2009spring2010/learn2.stm.

can enroll in First Year Seminars and Learning Communities?
All freshmen students are eligible! Your ELM and EPT scores will allow you to select the courses that best match your college preparation.

should I enroll in a First Year Seminar or a Learning Community?
The First Year Seminar and all of the learning community courses are freshman friendly courses selected to satisfy General Education or academic major requirements. Each seminar and learning community has a peer mentor who will provide one on one academic advising and organize co-curricular events. Students who participate in these programs report feeling more comfortable with their courses and professors and continue to value the friendships and network of resources acquired long after the semester is completed. Research shows that students who participate in either a First Year Seminar or a learning community are more likely to stay in college, earn better grades, and graduate!

How do I enroll in First Year Seminar or Learning Community? You may enroll in a First Year Seminar and/or a learning community during summer orientation. Both First Year Seminars and learning communities have limited availability so sign up early to get the best selection! Summer orientation sessions can be found at http://www.csus.edu/acad/orientation/.

do I contact for more information?

Students and Parents contact:
Rod T. Santos
Coordinator of First Year Programs
Student Affairs, Academic Advising Center
Saccramento State
6000 J Street - Lassen 1012
Sacramento, Ca 95819-6046

Faculty and Administrators contact:
Lynn M. Tashiro
Director of First Year Programs
Academic Affairs
Saccramento State
6000 J Street - AIRC 4002B
Sacramento, Ca 95819-6135

are the First Year Seminar Teachers? The First Year Seminar is taught by faculty in 25 departments across campus. The professors teaching these courses are committed to helping first year students succeed!

How many First Year Seminar courses are there? Are they all the same? Sixty sections of First Year Seminar are offered each fall and 2 sections are offered in the spring. First Year Seminars can have different department codes but they always have the course number “21”. For example, ENGL 21 and CRJ 21 are both First Year Seminars, the first is taught by an English professor and a Criminal Justice professor teaches the second. All sections of First Year Seminar contain the same basic topics and use the same primary textbook. A complete listing of First Year Seminar Courses is shown below: