The Office of First-Year Programs is committed to assisting freshmen, transfers and new graduate students in making a successful transition to life at UC Santa Barbara. Each of our programs has been created to help students develop the academic, personal and social skills necessary for collegiate and personal success.
Welcome to UCSB!
Each of our programs supports our overall goal of providing a positive environment for students to learn and think critically, make independent, ethical and healthy personal decisions, and to respond proactively and supportively to the needs of a highly diverse society.
Our efforts are focused on caring for the academic and intellectual maturation of students, which is also the University's essential educational mission.
Acknowledgement that personal and social issues may affect a student's life in profound ways creates a rationale for the University to encourage the development and accomplishment of students' personal and academic goals.
Our Programs for Frosh Students
The first year of college is a very important time in the development of young adults. Current research indicates that students experience a wide range of challenges during the first year as they transition to a new environment, develop new social and personal management skills, and are asked to achieve higher levels of academic performance.
The Office of First-Year Programs sponsors the Intro to University Course for first- and second-year students. The course consists of ten lectures and ten in-depth discussions co-facilitated by UCSB staff and undergraduate students. Take this course to learn how to make the most of your entire college experience, to make new friends, and to gain confidence in your ability to successfully navigate the academic, personal and social challenges of college life. ED 10 is a 2.0 unit course.
First-Year Programs also sponsors the University Success Course for first- and second-year students. Now in its third decade, this course has become a model for introductory courses across the country. The course consists of ten lectures and ten in-depth discussions co-facilitated by UCSB staff and undergraduate students. Take this course to learn how to make the most of your entire college experience, to make new friends, and to gain confidence in your ability to successfully navigate the academic, personal and social challenges of college life. ED 20 is a 3.0 unit course and fulfills one GE writing requirement (*).
Each quarter, the staff of First-Year Programs offers several workshops and programs to address the needs and concerns of first-year students. Programs are offered each quarter on a wide range of topics including academic advising, meeting faculty expectations, major and career selection, study skills, getting involved, leadership development, health and wellness, and more.
LEAP provides freshmen, from a wide range of backgrounds and with a variety of future goals, intensive leadership training and access to leadership opportunities. Freshmen apply during the fall and sixteen students are chosen based on their potential for leadership development. This program provides intensive leadership training to help first-year students develop potential as leaders at UCSB and beyond.
These advisors/coaches are pleased to help you address any problems or concerns you have with your academic, social or personal experience at UCSB. Each month, advisors distribute e-newsletters with important information, events, workshops, advice and deadlines. They are available for consultation by email (simply reply to the monthly e-newsletter) or in person (private and confidential appointments). Remember, even beyond your first year, you will have access to two advisors for each class level! For more information about the SRT, including staff bios, visit the web site.
Email FirstYearHelp@sa.ucsb.edu
Our Programs for Transfer Students
New transfer students are also first-year students at UCSB and have unique needs given that they already have been successful in another college environment. The transition to a top-ranked public research university may present some challenges and the following resources are available to assist new transfer students in having a successful first-year experience. For the most current information on all of these programs, be sure to read the monthly Student Resource Team e-Newsletters.
The Office of First-Year Programs sponsors the Transfer Success Course for first- and second- quarter transfer students. The course consists of ten lectures and ten in-depth discussions co-facilitated by UCSB staff and undergraduate students. The purpose of the course is to provide new transfer students with a sturdy foundation for a successful transition to this new and challenging research/learning environment with the ultimate goal of getting the most out of the UCSB experience. ED 118 is a 4.0 unit course.
In conjunction with departments and organizations across campus, the Office of First-Year Programs coordinates events for new transfer students that highlight essential resources and experiences. These programs are also a great opportunity to meet fellow transfer students! Topics include: career planning, studying abroad, getting involved, living well, leadership development, and more. The Series is coordinated by the Transfer Programs Intern.
These advisors/coaches are pleased to help you address any problems or concerns you have with your academic, social or personal experience at UCSB. Each month, advisors distribute e-newsletters with important information, events, workshops, advice and deadlines. They are available for consultation by email (simply reply to the monthly e-newsletter) or in person (private and confidential appointments). Remember, even beyond your first year, you will have access to two advisors for each class level! For more information about the SRT, including staff bios, visit the web site.
Email TransferHelp@sa.ucsb.edu
Transfer students naturally come from a wide variety of backgrounds. All programs offered by the Office of First-Year Programs are designed with special transfer student populations in mind, including: Non-Traditional Students (who live with a dependent, a long-term spouse or partner, or who are older than 25 and beginning a Bachelor's degree for the first time); Re-Entry Students (who are returning to college to complete a Bachelor's degree after time away); and U.S. Veterans who are entering or returning to college. If you belong to one of these special populations, please accept a special welcome from the Office of First-Year Programs and a standing invitation to join us at any of our new student programs throughout the year. The UCSB campus has a variety of specialized services for these special populations; please contact us directly for assistance.
Our Programs & Important Resources for Graduate Students
The transition to a new campus and a more rigorous course of study presents new graduate students with unique challenges. Recognizing that graduate students have already successfully acclimated to a campus and earned a secondary degree, UCSB provides graduate students with advanced resources to facilitate their unique integration into this academic community.
All students at UCSB have class-level advisors through the Student Resource Team. These advisors/coaches are pleased to help you address any problems or concerns you have with your academic, social or personal experience at UCSB. Each month, advisors distribute e-newsletters with important information, events, workshops, advice and deadlines. They are available for consultation by email (simply reply to the monthly e-newsletter) or in person (private and confidential appointments). For more information about the SRT, including staff bios, visit the web site.
Email GradHelp@sa.ucsb.edu
In every academic department, there is a graduate student advisor or student affairs officer who is a professional staff member and who can help you with an array of issues specific to your course of study. As a graduate student, you will also have a faculty advisor at some point in your academic career. Departments vary on when and how students are paired with faculty advisors, so you will need to contact your individual department to find out more
The Graduate Division
The GradDiv facilitates and coordinates graduate education and student services for all graduate academic and professional programs at the University of California. The goal of the Graduate Division is to promote academic excellence, to foster a diverse and inclusive graduate community, and to cultivate an intellectual and supportive climate for graduate students.
Graduate Students Association
The GSA is the elected representative government for graduate and professional students at UCSB. It works to ensure that graduate student concerns are addressed in on- and off-campus policy decisions. It also provides graduate students with information concerning decisions that are relevant to graduate student life and organizes graduate social events.
