Objectives

Support students in advocating for connections in their learning to their home contexts and
increasing the relevancy of university programs. For instance, how do the unique qualities of
rural Modoc County impact how all nursing students think about their future work?
Help all Chico State students to make connections between what they are learning in their
major and how that might contribute to vitality in our region. For example, how might a
Media Arts student connect their learning to opportunities for promoting tourism in
northern California?
Provide opportunities for Chico State students to connect youth in their hometown to the
intellectual resources on campus. Many area high schools now require seniors to job
shadow or intern. One idea is that college students in the SAGE Program (Entrepreneurship)
could distance-mentor Siskiyou students who are interested in the business profession.
Support students in civic engagement efforts both on campus and in their home
communities. For instance, how might they use their participation in voter registration on
campus to support similar efforts at home?
Create opportunities for students to engage in the complex conversations related to Town
Hall Meeting and the Chico Great Debate as it relates specifically to rural contexts. Students
could apply their ability to engage in civic dialogue with others on campus and with people
in their home communities about important topics of local and regional interest.
Help to connect students to resources with which they may be unfamiliar in order to
increase their success in completing their degree on time. This would include mentoring in
how to attend office hours, access the Chico Student Learning Center, etc. (This objective
complements or supplements other student support programs such as the Student Success
Center (REACH), EOP, TRIO, CCLC, FYE, Native American Club, 1 st Gen Organization, etc.)
Assist Chico State students in connecting alumni or professionals in their home communities
as a resource for other Chico State students or faculty. For example, how might a student’s
connections with a rural county commissioner back home result in an internship or job
opportunity for another student interested in rural/regional public administration?
Support interested students to create an alumni network in the northern region to provide
ongoing mentorship to our North State graduates.