The First Year Experience Program arrived at Stanislaus for this Fall 2004 semester, and 91 students are currently involved in the program.

“We’re trying to get them used to being in college,” said Dr. Marge Jassma, Director and professor in the program. “They seem to be responding well.”

The First Year Experience programs have been proven successful throughout the nation thanks to the innovative thinking of Dr. John Gardner.

Gardner, founder of the National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition and professor at the University of South Carolina, is considered a legend for establishing the idea for the program. It has traveled throughout the United States and spread oversees as Gardner pushed the program by giving workshops, conferences, seminars and special appearances. The success of the program has given Gardner international acclaim and special honors for the past two decades. Gardner introduced the program to CSU Stanislaus where it was then molded to fit the needs of the campus.

The program places freshmen in learning communities where they interact and develop academically with other new students as well as keep close contact with upperclassmen and teachers during their first semester in college. It features five learning communities which combine two integrated General Education courses with a twice-weekly seminar.

For example, Dr. Mark Grobner, teacher of Biology, and Mary Ann Simoneau, an English teacher, intertwine their course content with the other’s, and then relate it to the topic of discussion during their seminar period. The seminars also work to enhance basic college learning skills such as writing, critical thinking, reading, composition and management proficiencies. While in seminar, the students keep journals and prepare a portfolio of work due at the end of the semester.

A handful of college courses are available this semester for the First Year Experience program, including Introduction to Gender Studies, Problems in U.S. History, Introduction to Philosophy, Public Speaking and Introduction to Business.

Simoneau and Grobner were approached Spring of last year to be involved, and Simoneau volunteered to jump on board because she would “like to help students, especially freshmen, to not feel discouraged.”

According to an impromptu survey taken by Simoneau, the results she received from her students in regards to how they liked the First Year Experience Program came back with one word being repeated: Comfortable. The students appreciated the efforts made by administrators and older students to make their lives a little easier as they navigated through campus life. Simoneau also mentioned that students felt that teachers were more approachable, and students seemed to be able to make more friends more quickly while in the program and through the rest of their college journey.

The First Year Experience Program office is located in the Mary Stuart Rogers building in room 180. Admitting and advising walk-in hours are from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. For more information, please contact 209-667-3122.