Welcome to SRJC's First Year Experience Program

Our mission is to promote academic and social success, major exploration, and a sense of community, civic-mindedness, and personal leadership.

First Year Experience (FYE) is a unique program that provides new college students with the support that's needed to make a successful transition into college. The focus of FYE is preparing students for the academic and personal challenges they face in college and teaching them the skills that will help them to succeed and thrive in a college enviornment. As part of the program students develop personal awareness, lifelong learning skills, and connections with other students and faculty. Students receive individual college planning, referrals to college resources, and assistance in meeting their academic and personal goals from a counseling instructor.

FYE is Offered in Three Formats

• A one semester course, COUN 10, offered in either the fall or the spring
• A full year program COUN 10 in the fall and COUN 11 in the spring
• A full year learning community beginning with COUN 10 and English 100 in the fall, continuing with COUN 11 and English 1A in the spring

Course Content

COUN 10
Students learn to apply academic and life management skills to educational and personal goals, develop lifelong learning skills, cultural awareness, critical and creative thinking, explore the values and goals of higher education, and develop a plan for lifelong health and wellness.

COUN 11
Students explore the rich opportunities offered through SRJC’s majors and certificate programs, research transfer majors and institutions, identify goals and discover connections between academic majors and career choices, complete a service learning project, and understand and develop personal leadership skills. COUN 11 provides an opportunity for students to travel and work together on an alternative spring break.

The FYE Learning Community offers COUN 10 and English 100 in the fall and COUN 11 and English 1A in the spring. By working together, the instructors in the learning communities create an integrated curriculum and supportive learning environment for students. Students complete their college English requirement along with the FYE curriculum. By attending two classes a semester and staying together the entire school year, students develop friendships, participate in field trips, and support each other throughout their first year in college.