First-Year Experience

Get Involved with Sense of Place

We are looking for community members who can engage our students, offer positive and constructive feedback, and are willing to learn and incorporate student ideas into the work they do. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions at fye@csuchico.edu.

The Impact

 91% *reported an increased connection to Chico State and the larger Chico community. Fall 202492% *reported feeling more confident in their academic ability. Fall 202489% *reported feeling increased confidence in their ability to affect change in their community. Fall 2024

* includes ‘Strongly Agree’ & ‘Agree’ statements

Student Participants

Students enrolled in FYE-Supported Courses participate in Sense of Place as a critical component of their coursework. Students have researched a topic of their choice and prepared to discuss their research in a public forum. 

"It's a great experience where you are able to freely share your opinions about topics going on in the community. You are able to build bonds with new people and share your thoughts and feelings with amazing people for a whole semester." Fall 2024

Respondents

Respondents are experts in an area related to the students’ topics, and their role is to actively listen and engage in student presentations while providing feedback. Respondents will ask questions about the students’ research and presentation that further engage them with the content, and students will ask respondents about their professional experience in the topic.