The Freshman Year Experience at UC Santa Barbara

The first year of college is a very important time in the development of young adults. Current research indicates that students experience a wide range of challenges during the first year of college as they transition to a new environment, develop new social and personal management skills, and are asked to achieve higher levels of academic performance. In its broadest context, the overall goal of the programs for first year students is to provide a rich, multi-entry, programmatic environment in which students are taught to learn and think critically, make independent ethical and healthy personal decisions, and to respond proactively and supportively to the needs of a highly diverse society. Although clearly overlapping and ideally mutually reinforcing, the three areas of growth that students are expected to experience at UCSB include academic, personal, and social development. The academic and intellectual maturation of students is of primary importance and is the university’s essential educational mission. It is also important to acknowledge that personal and social issues may affect a student’s academic life in profound ways, and that creates a rationale for the university to encourage the development and accomplishment of several personal and academic goals for freshmen.

The faculty and staff at UCSB are committed to assisting first-year students make a successful transition to college life. To this end, several different types of programs have been created to help students develop academic, personal, and social skills necessary for college and professional success. While some programs are only available to certain populations, all freshmen will be able to access most of these programs at some point during their first year. For more information about a specific program, contact the numbers listed below. For information about the freshman experience at UCSB in general, contact:

Britt Andreatta, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean of Students
First-Year Programs & Leadership Education
Office of Student Life (2260 SRB)
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-5010
Phone: (805) 893-8290
E-mail: britt.andreatta@sa.ucsb.edu
Website: http://www.sa.ucsb.edu/osl/fye/

Programs for Freshman

The Office of Student Life provides first year students with a suite of support services designed to assist their transition. These efforts are coordinated by Dr. Britt Andreatta, Assistant Dean of Students, who serves as the general advisor to the freshman class. After the first year, students are supported by members of the Student Mentor Team who provide similar services to each class level (see Student Support Services section). Each month, she emails all currently enrolled freshmen the “Frosh Flash” electronic newsletter announcing events, workshops, advice, deadlines, and other topics of relevance to freshmen. She also holds weekly office hours and is available for one-on-one meetings to help students address any problems or concerns they have with their academic, social or personal experience at UCSB. Dr. Andreatta presents several workshops throughout the year in the residence halls. She is also the instructor for UCSB’s University Success Course (Interdisciplinary Studies 20) described in the next entry. Her contact information is listed above.

University Success Course

The Office of Student Life sponsors an academic course for first and second-year students entitled “Introduction to the University Experience” (Interdisciplinary Studies 20). In this course, new students explore many issues of higher education, including the relationship between research and teaching, the relationship between a theory-based education and future career options in the diverse campus community, and issues that personally affect students during their education such as relationships and sexuality, as well as alcohol and other drug usage. Students also examine contemporary issues that affect current students at UCSB.

Research shows that students who complete INT 20 experience the following benefits:

1. Increased academic performance and retention
2. Inceased invovlement in campus leadership opportunities
3. Increased engagement with faculty
4. Increased sense of belonging and social satisfaction

Interdisciplinary Studies 20 is a 3.0 unit course offered every winter and spring quarter that also fulfills the writing requirement. Freshmen can enroll through GOLD and sophomores can request an add code. For more information about the course, contact the Office of Student Life at (805) 893-4569 or visit http://www.sa.ucsb.edu/osl/fye. For enrollment information, check the Schedule of Classes published for winter and spring quarters. This course is taught by Dr. Britt Andreatta, Assistant Dean of Students and Director of First-Year Programs and Leadership Education.

Freshman Seminars

Freshman Seminars are one or two-unit courses that allow for students to engage in meaningful discussions with professors from various disciplines. Limited to fifteen students, these elective courses allow first-year students with no previous knowledge on a subject to explore topics such as The Nature of Science, Contemporary Poetry Examined, How to Read the Wall Street Journal, and Politics and Art. New topics are offered each quarter. Course listings are included in the Schedule of Classes under Interdisciplinary 94AA-ZZ. For more information about the freshman seminar program, contact the College of Letters & Science, Cheadle Hall 1117; (805) 893-3201 or at www.freshsem.ucsb.edu

Student Success Seminars

Each quarter, several workshops are scheduled to address the needs and concerns of first year students. Programs are offered in the residence halls on a wide range of topics including academic advising, student health, major and career selection, study skills, finding housing, financial aid, and getting involved. Students should look for fliers advertising these events, read the monthly Frosh Flash e-newsletter sent to their UMAIL accounts, or ask their Resident Assistant for current offerings.

Educational Programs

Each year, thousands of events are scheduled on a wide range of topics of interest to new and continuing students. Within each residence hall, the team of professional staff and student resident assistants plan educational and social programs specifically designed for their residents. These events are open to the residents and are, for the most part, free of charge. Students may also request special programming through their Resident Assistant. In addition to programming within the residence halls, several campus departments, programs, and organizations continually host workshops, performances, lectures, events, discussions, and activities. Students can learn about these programs through the campus newspaper, fliers posted around campus, printed calendars of events, or visiting the on-line campus events calendar at http://events.sa.ucsb.edu.

Leadership Development

There are several outstanding programs at UCSB that help students to develop into future leaders with integrity and dedication to their respective career interests. Students may join at any point during their academic careers, but first-year students are especially encouraged to join. See more information in the “Student Involvement” section on page 43.

Co-Curricular Involvement

Students at UCSB have a wide range of opportunities in which to get involved and make a difference. Several opportunities exist in student government, either through the Residence Halls Association or Associated Students. In addition, over 300 clubs and organizations exist that provide many opportunities for involvement and leadership. Students can also explore their interests through paid positions and internships as peer advisors, resident assistants, program coordinators, etc. in almost every department at UCSB. For more information about all of the involvement opportunities at UCSB and ways to begin participating, students should contact the Office of Student Life (2260 SRB) at (805) 893-4569.

Scholars Program

The Scholars Program offers unique academic experiences outside of the classroom to students entering UCSB with a Regents or Chancellor’s Scholarship. The mission of the program is to bring together student scholars from a variety of backgrounds and stimulate communication with faculty and across all three academic colleges. For more details about events and information about the Regents and Chancellor’s Scholars Association, visit the web site at: http://orgs.sa.ucsb.edu/rcss.

Freshmen Summer Start Program

Each summer, a small cohort of new UCSB freshmen have the opportunity to get a head start on their University studies. Freshmen accepted into FSSP take Summer Session courses providing full academic credit and will participate in a range of special academic activities. The living/learning environment of FSSP is designed to accelerate students’ transitions to the University, help students work toward their degree objectives, introduce students to faculty, and provide opportunities for students to meet new friends. Contact the Summer Sessions office at (805) 893-2377 or see www.summer.ucsb.edu/fssp.html.

EOP Student Support Services

The Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) assists the student community while focusing on low-income and first-generation students over the course of their undergraduate careers in clarifying and addressing academic, personal, career, and financial concerns. They also assist students as advocates and mentors while sharing information about other key campus resources and service providers available at UCSB and in the community. Assistance for entering freshmen begins with the Summer Transitional Enrichment Program (STEP), a two-week residential experience where students may enroll in courses such as math, writing, chemistry and a Transitions Seminar. These courses introduce critical and independent thinking skills and techniques for attaining scholastic honors at the university level.

EOP also offers other departmental services, such as the Frosh Peer Advisor and Transfer & Continuing Students Programs that are designed to assist new frosh, transfer, undergraduate parents and re-entry students. The primary goal of these services is to advise and prepare students at each respective class level to achieve post-graduation goals, such as gaining admission to a graduate/professional school or entering the job market.

In addition, EOP offers a Cultural Services Program that facilitates interaction/collaboration between students of all cultural/ethnic backgrounds and allows them to gain an understanding of and appreciation for similarities and differences in each other and themselves.

There are five EOP Cultural Resource Centers help provide welcoming environments to celebrate and promote the history, contributions, intellectual heritage, education and growth of students. For further information about EOP services, visit our website at http://www.sa.ucsb.edu/eop or call (805) 893- 4758.