Students share a common intellectual experience with an academic focus. University Experience (UNIV) seminars are linked to General Education (GE) courses, major prerequisite or required courses for majors, or courses that meet Graduation Requirements in the Fall semester, with one or two Spring courses. Living-Learning Communities align with a CI Mission Pillar. Once registered, students are in fixed cohorts in specific sections of the courses, which are linked as “co-requisites” in the system. Most students are housed with other students in their learning community.*
*We will have seats in LLCs for commuter students as well, so students are not required to live on campus to participate.
Activities are aimed at blurring the boundaries between living and learning, and improving students’ transition to college life. Students are in fixed cohorts in designated sections of the courses listed and, once accepted in the LLC (priority deadline for the Housing Application and the Learning Community Interest Survey is June 1), will be placed by the Learning Community team ahead of Island View Orientation. If seats and rooms are still available by the time of Island View Orientation, students not yet placed who have completed Housing Applications may be added to LLC courses.
Michele Serros Multicultural Living-Learning Community
Description
This community is named for Michele Serros, celebrated Chicana author/poet, who was from the City of Oxnard in Ventura County. This LLC engages students in critical dialogue on educational empowerment, creativity, community advocacy, multiculturalism, and social justice and equity, fostering a sense of familia and support for all its members. Students are enrolled in a 6-unit course block in the Fall and a 3-unit class in the Spring. A University Experience Associate (UEA) peer mentor is embedded in each First Year Seminar, and meets with students outside of class in small Dolphin Interest Groups (DIGs) every other week. The UEA collaborates with faculty and a Resident Advisor (RA) in housing to promote transition to University life for the LLC cohort. DIGs and LLC event programming continue in the Spring semester.
Eligibility/Condition
Designed for incoming freshmen from any major. We expect to place first-year students in Santa Rosa Village. Also open to non-residential students.
Linked Classes and General Education and Graduation Requirement Credits
Fall 2022:
- UNIV 150 First Year Seminar (GE: A3 Critical Thinking or E Lifelong Learning)
- CHS 100 Introduction to Chicana/o Studies (GE: F Ethnic Studies and Multicultural Graduation Requirement)
Spring 2023:
- HIST 271 The United States Since 1877 (Title V American Institutions Requirement)
Bedford and Dr. Irene Pinkard Multicultural Living-Learning Community
Description
This community honors the continued legacy of Bedford and Dr. Irene Pinkard, founders of the Ventura County Chapter of Black American Political Association of California, and their work in the underserved communities of Ventura County. The goal of this community is to develop leadership and mentoring skills to encourage a sense of belonging at CI, critically analyze issues that impact the Black and other vulnerable populations of the world, and to imagine and create more inclusive futures. Students are enrolled in a 6-unit block in the Fall semester, and 3 units in the Spring semester. A University Experience Associate (UEA) peer mentor is embedded in each First Year Seminar, and meets with students outside of class in small Dolphin Interest Groups (DIGs) every other week. The UEA collaborates with faculty and a Resident Advisor (RA) in housing to promote transition to University life for the LLC cohort. DIGs and LLC event programming continue in the Spring semester.
Eligibility/Condition
Designed for incoming freshmen from any major. We expect to place first-year students in Santa Rosa Village. Also open to non-residential students.
Linked Classes and General Education and Graduation Requirement Credits
Fall 2022:
- UNIV 150 First Year Seminar (GE: A3 Critical Thinking or E Lifelong Learning)
- AFS 202 Introduction to Africana Studies (GE: F Ethnic Studies and Multicultural Graduation Requirement)
Spring 2023:
- ENGL 160 Genre Fiction: Afro Cyber Punk (GE: C1 Arts)
Infinity Dolphins Multicultural Living-Learning Community
Description
This community will build community around neurodiversity, neuro-inclusion and belonging through celebrating neurodiverse history and cultures, identity awareness programs, neuroinclusive social activities, greater community events, intercultural programming and advocacy. Students are enrolled in a 6-unit course block in the Fall and 6-units in the Spring. A University Experience Associate (UEA) peer mentor is embedded in the First Year Seminar, and meets with students outside of class in small Dolphin Interest Groups (DIGs) every other week. The UEA collaborates with the faculty and a Resident Advisor (RA) in housing to promote transition to University life for the LLC cohort. DIGs and LLC event programming continue in the Spring semester.
Eligibility/Condition
This LLC is also open to incoming freshmen from any major. We expect to place first-year students in Santa Rosa Village. Also open to non-residential students.
Linked Classes and General Education Credits
Fall 2022:
- UNIV 150 First Year Seminar (GE: E Lifelong Learning)
- POLS 150 American Political Institutions (American Institutions Graduation Requirement)
Spring 2023 options:
- ENGL 160 Genre Fiction: Afro Cyber Punk (GE: C1 Arts)
- LIB 211 Discerning Information in an Interconnected World (GE: A3 Critical Thinking)
Windows on the World (WOW) International Living-Learning Community
Description
This community is focused on international themes, in history and today. Students are enrolled in a 6-unit course block in the Fall and a 3-unit course in the Spring. A University Experience Associate (UEA) peer mentor is embedded in the First Year Seminar, and meets with students outside of class in small Dolphin Interest Groups (DIGs) every other week. The UEA collaborates with the faculty and a Resident Advisor (RA) in housing to promote transition to University life for the LLC cohort. DIGs and LLC event programming continue in the Spring semester.
Eligibility/Condition
Designed to meet pre-requisites for students in the Liberal Studies Teaching and Learning major, this LLC is also open to incoming freshmen from any major. We expect to place first-year students in Santa Rosa Village. Also open to non-residential students.
Linked Classes and General Education Credits
Fall 2022:
- UNIV 150 First Year Seminar (GE: Area A3 Critical Thinking or E Lifelong Learning)
- COMM 101 Public Speaking (GE: A1 Oral Communication)
Spring 2023 options:
- HIST 211 World History: Origins to 1500 (GE: Area D Social Science)
Island SURF (Student Undergraduate Research Fellows) Integrative Living-Learning Community
Description
This interdisciplinary research community will collaborate with the Santa Rosa Island Research Station and will include a trip to the island. Students will be enrolled in a 6-unit bock in Fall semester, and a 3-unit course in the Spring semester. A Research Ambassador peer mentor will be embedded in UNIV 198 in Fall and meets with students outside of class in small Dolphin Interest Groups (DIGs) every other week. The mentor collaborates with faculty and a Resident Advisor (RA) in housing to promote transition to University life for the LLC cohort. DIGs and LLC event programming continue in the Spring semester.
Eligibility/Condition
Designed for incoming freshmen from any major. We expect to place first-year students in Santa Rosa Village. Also open to non-residential students.
Linked Classes and General Education Credits
Fall 2022:
- UNIV 198 Introduction to Interdisciplinary Research (GE: A3 Critical Thinking)
- ESRM 100 Introduction to Environmental Science and Resource Management (GE: D Social Science)
Spring 2023:
- ANTH 104 Bioanthropology (GE: B2 Life Science, with an optional B3 Laboratory Activity if the ANTH 104L course is taken)
Healthcare Integrative Living-Learning Community
Description
This community is for students interested in Nursing, Health Sciences, and related fields. In the Fall, students register in a 7-unit course block: UNIV 150 First Year Seminar and BIOL 210 Human Anatomy and Physiology I lecture and lab. In the Spring, students will take 7-units: COMM 101 Public Speaking and BIOL 211 Human Anatomy and Physiology II lecture and lab. A University Experience Associate (UEA) peer mentor is embedded in the First Year Seminar, and meets with students outside of class in small Dolphin Interest Groups (DIGs) every other week. The mentor collaborates with faculty and a Resident Advisor (RA) in housing to promote transition to University life for the LLC cohort. DIGs and LLC event programming continue in the Spring semester.
Eligibility/Condition
Incoming freshmen. Priority for students intending to major in Nursing, Health Sciences, or related fields.
Linked Classes and General Education Credits
Fall 2022:
- UNIV 150 First Year Seminar (GE: A3 Critical Thinking or E Lifelong Learning)
- BIOL 210/210L Human Anatomy and Physiology I (Nursing and Health Sciences pre-requisite)
Spring 2023:
- COMM 101 Public Speaking (GE: A-1 Oral Communication)
- BIOL 211/211L Human Anatomy and Physiology II (Nursing and Health Sciences pre-requisite)