Supportive Pathways for Incoming First Year Students!
First Year Connections (FYC) recognizes that for first-year students it can be a difficult journey transitioning from high school to a university setting. Our goal is to guide first year students to a successful first-year experience by connecting them with peers, connecting them to resources, and making new friends! FYC programs and services promote belonging and connections in first year math and English courses.
Peer Engagement and Timely Support
Peer Leader Program: The Peer Leader program at California State University, Los Angeles, in partnership with Peer Forward, a national student success organization, connects selected incoming first-year students with students who have successfully navigated the college experience. Our Peer Leaders engage with an incoming cohort to ensure their students find belonging at Cal State LA and understand how to enjoy and succeed in their first year at university. Building on academic research and best practices, Peer Leaders follow a SOAR curriculum specifically designed to engage and welcome students starting this important educational journey.
Peer Leaders deliver a SOAR curriculum to ensure students are welcomed and informed at Cal State LA. The components of the SOAR curriculum are:
- Strengthen Your Study Skills
- Own Your Education
- Advance Your Degree
- Realize Your Future
Peer Leaders meet with first-year students in person, online, or by phone, to engage in these topics throughout the year and share their tips and strategies for a successful college experience.
Peer-Led Undergraduate Study (PLUS) Supplemental Instruction (SI)
PLUS is peer-to-peer academic support that provides discussion and guidance for your math/statistics course. PLUS Sessions are designed to:
- Strengthen your understanding of the material presented in course lectures and texts
- Develop both general and content-specific learning strategies and study skills
- Review for exams and develop effective test-taking strategies
To schedule an appointment with a PLUS Leader, click on NavigateLA and follow the steps below:
- Click "Get Assistance"
- Under "What type of appointment would you like to schedule?", select Learning Assistance
- Under "Service", select the appropriate course for your PLUS session
- Under "Pick a Date", select the date desired
- Click "Find Available Time", and select your desired time
- Once you confirmed your desired time, please check your email, as you will receive the location of your PLUS session.
QR and English courses participate in Timely Support, a student success initiative at Cal State LA. The Timely Support team may reach out to you via email, phone, and/or text message to connect you to an appointment. This is one of the ways we support our students. Getting an email or call from Timely Support is a call to action; we encourage you to attend your appointment to succeed in these courses.
Supportive Pathways in Summer
Students who participate in our summer summer Early Start courses will have the opportunity to earn 3 units of college credit by enrolling in either Early Start Composition (ESC) or Early Start Math (ESM) prior to starting in the fall! These in-person courses are designed to prepare students and connect them with peers! Participation is based on multiple measures. Provisionally admitted students should check their Cal State LA email for important information regarding their participation. Exemptions will be made for students: distance/out of state, international, and/or athletes.
| Last Day to Register | First Day of Class | Last Day of Class |
|---|---|---|
| June 12, 2024 | June 17, 2024 | English: July 26 | Math: August 13 |
- Log in to your MyCalStateLA portal. Click on the GET icon. Select ‘Self-Service’, then go to ‘Student Center’.
- Click on the ‘Early Start Course’ link at the top left under 'Academic' on your GET page. This is where you will confirm your Early Start course participation and be notified if a fee-waiver is available to you.
- After selecting Cal State LA, you will be directed to a confirmation page. Click ‘Confirm Early Start Selection and you should be redirected to make your final confirmation where a link to ‘Enroll in Early Start’ will appear.
- Review the information regarding your course requirements options from the letter you received.
- Select the 'Enroll in Early Start' button located at the bottom of the page. A Financial Aid Waiver pop-up message may appear informing you of the financial aid waiver eligibility (subject to change, based on EFC).
- You should now be on the 'Add Classes' page. Click on the Search button
- In the subject box, enter the appropriate course to add, ESC for English or ESM for math. In the box right below, enter the course number (see your letter: 1090, 1082, or 1005A). Then click ‘Search’.
- A list of courses should appear with a green circle indicating that the course is open, and seats are available. Make the selection that best fits your schedule. 'Select’ the course and then click ‘Next’ to continue. For math, repeat steps to add lab (ESM 90 or 82 )
- Review your selection and "Proceed to Step 2 of 3". Select 'Finish Enrolling'.
- If you come across any errors, please screenshot, and email to: FirstYearConnect@calstatela.edu
Students requesting accommodations, please visit OSD Registration or contact the Office for Students with Disabilities (323) 343-3140.
Cannot attend this summer? Please let us know!
ESM 1090 and ESM 90: Early Start Quantitative Reasoning with Statistics (8 weeks)
Course Credit: Passing ESM 1090 will confer 3 units of college credit and fulfill the GE Block B4 requirement. ESM 1090 is graded ABC-/NC. ESM 90 does not carry college credit or count towards the degree and is graded CR/NC.
ESM 1082 and ESM 82 Early Start Precalculus: Functions (8 weeks)
Course Credit: Passing ESM 1082 will confer 3 units of college credit and fulfill the GE Block B4 requirement. ESM 82 does not carry college credit or count towards the degree.
ESC 1005A Early Start Composition
ESC 1005A is a 6-week summer course designed to prepare first-time students for success in their college writing classes. Working with a supportive professor, you'll have the opportunity to explore new strategies for critical reading, research, and writing to build a strong foundation for the work you'll do in your future college courses. You'll develop your writing strengths by connecting and working with peers just like you.
Course credit: You will earn 3 units of college credit by passing this course and advance to the next level of English in the Fall semester (ENGL 1005B). Graded: ABC-, NC
The cost is $191 per unit plus a mandatory one-time fee of $1 for Health Facilities and $1 for the Student Union.
California residents who apply for financial aid and have a Student Aid Index (SAI) of $6,000 or less (at the time of enrollment) will be eligible for a waiver of the per-unit fee, the Health Facilities fee and the Student Union fee.
Refund Procedure and 2024 Proration Schedule, visit the One-Stop Financial Services Office website.
To pay online, please log on to your MyCalStateLA student portal and select Transact from the Quick Launch menu. You can also access the link directly here.
Students enrolled for the 8-week ESM course or the 6-week ESC course will receive an email from Parking & Transporation services with information on how to obtain a parking permit (purchase is optional).
Please note: It is the responsibility of all drivers to know and under stand the University parking rules and regulations. Parking regulations are enforced 24-hours a day, 7 days a week including holidays. Please obey all posted signs and/or curb markings. Please click here for more information about parking regulations. Click here for campus map.
Email: FirstYearConnect@calstatela.edu | Phone: 323.343.6860 | Office: Library North Room 1034
Please let us know why you cannot attend Early Start.