General Education Course Link Program
Program
The General Education Course Link program is designed for first-year students
to assist with a smooth entry into university life. Through an integrated
program of study that also has the benefit of creating a collaborative
learning community, you get a good start on fulfilling General Education
and California Code requirements. The major benefit of the GE Course Link
program is that it allows you access to a block of three General Education
and Code-required courses that you will need for graduation, and assures
you immediately of confirmed registration.
The goals of this program are:
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to enhance your first-year academic life through integrated academic and
social activities;
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to provide increased opportunities for collaborative learning and studying
with other Course Link students;
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to provide a better sense of community and belonging; and
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to increase your opportunities to share and discuss ideas.
The GE Course Link Program provides direct registration in a block of three
General Education and Code-required courses through a special Multiple
Course Enrollment (MCE) course section. In some cases, an MCE block is
designed around a theme or for a specific population or major. Approximately
thirty Course Link blocks are offered each fall semester.
All of the MCE blocks are designated as General Education 001 (abbreviated
GNED 001). Registration in a section of GNED 001 is in “real time” or “direct
registration” mode, which means that the telephone registration system
will inform you immediately whether the section that you want is available,
and if it is available the system will enroll you directly in the three
courses associated with the section you request.
The GE Course Link program has been developed to enhance academic life
for first-year students in several ways. Each GNED 001 block of GE courses
accommodates twenty-five students. Participants therefore are part of an
instant “community” with twenty-four other students who are sharing three
courses and many of the same academic experiences. This community allows
collaborative learning and studying, increased opportunities to share and
discuss ideas, and the possibility of integrated social and academic activities.
Registration in a GE Course Link block of classes does not necessarily
mean, however, that you will spend your first semester with only the twenty-four
other students in your block. Frequently, your group of twenty-five will
be part of a larger class which includes one or more additional groups
of twenty-five students. In this way, you will enjoy the benefits both
of the more intimate community of the twenty-four students who will share
several classes with you in your Course Link block and the opportunity
to meet many other students as well.
What the Students Say
Students who have participated in the GE Course Link Program during its
first several years have found that it eased their transition to college
life. Typical comments have been:
“It wasn’t difficult to speak in front of the class because I knew everyone.”
“Joining Course Link my first semester helped me establish an academic
and social base.”
How to Register
Specific registration information, as well as information on the Course
Link blocks currently available, can be found in The Class Schedule. The
GE Course Link blocks are found under the subject area heading “General
Education Course Link Program” in The Class Schedule. In addition, new
students who attend Summer Orientation will receive complete information
and special assistance with registration for the General Education Course
Link Program.
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