November 10, 2005
By Robby Nisenfeld

New students have a new face to turn to for help in settling into university life this semester.

Lia Gutierrez-Castillo is the new coordinator for Freshman Programs — a group of programs that provides support to help first-year students make a successful transition, both academically and socially, from high school to college.

“Freshman Programs has helped hundreds of students understand higher education,” Gutierrez-Castillo said. “Students are not only being supported in the classroom but in the community too.”

A record number of nearly 4,000 first-time freshmen enrolled on campus this semester and more than 400 chose to participate in one of the Freshmen Programs’ five communities — Fullerton First Year, Freshmen Future Teachers, COMPASS, Live ‘n’ Learn and Freshmen Success.

Gutierrez-Castillo said all communities stress three main goals — academic success, campus involvement and civic engagement. They all offer University 100 classes that emphasize time management, leadership, research and stress management. All University 100 classes are overseen by three individuals — a faculty person, student affairs professional and peer mentor.

“We have three people there supporting their needs in different ways,” Gutierrez-Castillo said. “It brings a diversity of opinions to the classes.”

The largest of the communities is Fullerton First Year Community, a two-semester program that addresses traditional transitional issues. Freshmen Future Teachers, also yearlong, is for students planning to be teachers.

COMPASS Community is a one-semester program designed for students who have yet to select a major, while Live ‘n’ Learn is a one-semester program, open to students who live in residence halls, that focuses on creating a sense of community.

Freshman Success kicksoff during the summer prior to students’ first semester and allows participants who did not pass English or math placement examinations to take remedial or developmental coursework.

Each program also incorporates service learning experiences and academic field trips, as well as social events such as fundraisers, banquets and a group gathering at Concert Under the Stars, said Gutierrez-Castillo.

Studies have shown that Freshman Programs participants produce a higher average GPA (2.87) than other first-time freshman (2.55), and 55 percent of Freshman Program students who complete a full-year program graduate in four years.

“The first year is such a critical year for students,” Gutierrez-Castillo said. “The quality of the first-year experience can really have an impact on the rest of a student’s college career.”

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