The First Year Experience program at Sacramento State fosters retention of freshmen and transfer students through Sac State student mentors, freshmen seminars and learning communities.

First Year Experience is a nationwide program on individual campuses. Sac State mentors and faculty welcome freshmen and transfer students to acclimate them to campus. However, the program is mainly geared toward freshmen.

In February, Sac State mentors Vance Jarrard, John Kanemoto, Kiersten Hansen and Haylee Crowley attended the 30th annual conference on the First Year Experience, which gave the mentors information and tools that they could bring back to the program.

Kanemoto, a Sac State student and mentor, was chosen as a fellow to the First Year Experience National Convention in Atlanta. Kanemoto earned a $400 scholarship to cover the conference fees.

“Those of us that are peer mentors understand the importance of a positive experience and a good first year,” Jarrard said. “We do all we can to make sure our mentees are comfortable at Sac State and that they get as much out of their college experience as possible.”

First Year Experience President Diondra McClendon said students in transition should take advantage of the program.

“Getting involved in First Year Experience is more important for freshmen than transfer students because the program is designed to specifically walk them through the first years as they transition from high school to the university level,” McClendon said.

The First Year Experience also incorporates 53 sections of freshmen seminars this spring and they vary in subjects from child development to history. University Learning Communities are for specific majors and have 34 sections this spring.

In the freshmen seminars and learning community courses, 20 to 30 Sac State mentors present time management, study skills and general education information to students.

Jarrard said learning about his group of students is one of the best parts of his job.

“This semester I am mentoring about 25 first-year students,” Jarrard said. “They all have different majors, different interests and backgrounds which makes the job even more interesting.”

Mentors act as academic advisers helping freshmen and transfer students pick classes and direct them toward resources they need. Freshmen meet twice a semester; the first meeting involves getting to know each other and the second is for advising them.

“We act somewhat as a counselor for them,” Jarrard said. “Everything they talk to us about is confidential, which gives them an environment to talk about things they may be struggling with or just need to get out. We provide someone they can listen to.”

Learning Communities allow students to learn over and involve students with big questions that matter beyond the classroom, Arnaud said.

First Year Experience Director Lynn Tashiro said some people who take these classes are suffering from the poor economy.

“Data shows that every time the economy tanks, people go back to school because there’s not a lot of opportunities for good-paying jobs,” Tashiro said.

First Year Experience alsooffers free events to students. Last year included a talent show and a movie screening of “Inception.” These events help students get involved on campus and make friends throughout the time at Sac State.

“We want to show our mentees that they don’t have to come to school to just go to class and then go home. We want them to know that Sac State has a lot to offer and there is always something going on for them,” Jarrard said.

Mallory Fites can be reached at [email protected]