CSUMB selected to 're-imagine' freshman year

Suddenly, re-imagining seems like the concept du jour.

Cal State Monterey Bay has been selected as one of 44 colleges nationwide for a pilot program coordinated by the Association of American State Colleges and Universities to revamp education for college freshmen.

The three-year program, Re-imagining the First Year of College, aims to transform the freshman year in order to improve students’ chances of success in school and in the workplace. It is funded through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and USA Funds.

“We are honored to be involved in such a prestigious and worthwhile project,” said CSUMB Provost Bonnie Irwin in a statement. “The Re-imagining the First Year of College project will allow CSUMB to continue to work on student success on campus and it will align nicely with Monterey County's cradle-to-career partnership, Bright Futures.”

The first year of college is a critical barrier to student success, the point at which schools experience the greatest loss of students. The goal of the initiative is to help the 44 participating colleges implement changes that increase retention and improve graduation rates, particularly among  underserved populations – low income, first generation and students of color.

By the end of three years, the goal is for each campus to have a better strategy for student success with measurable results on things such as retention and credits earned, plus a broader support network.