First- and Second-year Experience
The First- and Second-year Experience program challenges you to reach your full potential by supporting your college transition from enrollment through your second year.
College is exciting and sometimes a little overwhelming, whether you’re a first-time freshman, transfer, returning student, adult learner or member of the military. Students come with diverse experiences and expectations, and the program’s goal is to help you be successful throughout your academic journey. Here are some of the beneficial opportunities.
- Social and academic events
- Pathway to success checklist
- Dynamic learning communities
- Peer-to-peer connections and support
- Faculty and staff actively engaged in your personal and academic growth
First-year Experience
GGC-1000 first-year seminar
The GGC-1000 first-year seminar promotes intentional learning and participation in GGC’s campus culture.
Find GGC-1000 First-year Seminar course information in the GGC catalog.
Learning communities
Learning communities – available to both first-year and upper-division students – provide themed options (meta-majors) that connect you with new and supportive friends while learning things that matter to you. Many also feature learning opportunities beyond the classroom.
Find a list of learning community meta-majors and registration details.
Email questions to @email.
First-year Experience Pathway to Success
The first-year experience pathway to success offers recommendations to help you navigate your first year at GGC. Review and integrate them into your personal and academic goals.
First- and Second-year Reading Experience
GGC embraces first- and second-year reading programs that build community and a sense of belonging through a shared intellectual engagement experience. Selected books create a common experience centered around student success. The experience develops positive academic behaviors, fosters involvement, promotes meaningful learning and engages scholarship.
Reading Experience Benefits
- Develops positive academic behaviors.
- Encourages student involvement.
- Promotes meaningful learning where students discover connections between curricular and co-curricular experiences and engage critical thinking in group discussions.
- Brings together first- and second-year students, faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds.
Grizzly Peers for Success – peer mentoring
The Grizzly Peers for Success program links new students one-on-one with a peer mentor who has experienced many of the same challenges and gone on to succeed.
Second-year Experience
GGC-2000 introduction to 21st century information course
Gain 21st Century information literacy: information creation, strategic searching and exploration, primary and secondary research, and ethically participating in communities of learning.
Find GGC-2000 Introduction to 21st Century Information course information in the GGC catalog.
Second-year Experience Pathway to Success
The second-year experience pathway to success offers recommendations to help you navigate your second year at GGC. Review and integrate them into your personal and academic decisions and goals.
First- and Second-year Reading Experience
GGC embraces first- and second-year reading programs that build community and a sense of belonging through a shared intellectual engagement experience. Selected books create a common experience centered around student success. The experience develops positive academic behaviors, fosters involvement, promotes meaningful learning and engages scholarship.
Reading Experience Benefits
- Develops positive academic behaviors.
- Encourages student involvement.
- Promotes meaningful learning where students discover connections between curricular and co-curricular experiences and engage critical thinking in group discussions.
- Brings together first- and second-year students, faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds.
Student Advisory Group for Excellence (SAGE)
SAGE is a group of students from across the college who provide valuable input to continually improve Student Success services. Nominate yourself or others by completing the online SAGE nomination form.