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CNAS Scholars

CNAS Student Success Programs

First-Year Student Resources

First-Year Student Resources

Below is a list of campus resources that are perfect for first-year students looking for assistance, involvement opportunities, and academic support. Please click on the titles for additional details and contact information for each resource. If you have any questions, please contact cnasscholars@ucr.edu.

  • Advice from Former Freshman to Current Freshman
    1. Utilize campus resources as much as possible.
    2. Don't give up and make the best of every single situation.
    3. Get a support group right away and introduce yourself to people in your classes.
    4. Stay organized and stay on top of your classes by using a planner.
    5. Know how you study, what motivates you and what your end goals are.
  • First-Year Success Checklist

     Note: we no longer have Peer Advising drop-in hours. Please reach out to your peer mentor from your NASC 091 class for any questions.

    First-Year Success Plan
  • Academic Resource Center

    Located in Skye Hall 156, the Academic Resource Center or ARC provides a wide-range of academic support programs to help freshman with their academic goals. We encourage you to visit https://arc.ucr.edu/ for more information on the below programs

    • Assistance, Coaching, and Encouragement: ACE is a customized academic support program that helps students who are struggling academically, with their transition from high school to college or with a development of study skills. Perfect for first-year students who are acclimating to the rigors of a college curriculum, this program helps students develop the essential and lifelong study habits required to achieve academic success in the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences. For more information on this program, please visit the below link:
    • R'Success Workshops: These workshops cover a variety of study and life skill topics perfect for first-year students. They are designed to help strengthen your study habits, time management skills and college preparation. For more information on how to sign-up and participate in these events, please visit the below link:
    • Supplemental Instruction: SI is a non-traditional form of tutoring that uses peer-led study groups and collaborative learning strategies to assist students in traditionally difficult courses. They attend lectures with students, exhibit model student behavior and act as a class liaison. While SI is a required component of most CNAS Scholars Learning Communities, students who do not belong to an LC may attend open SI sections as an alternative. We highly encourage first-year students to attend supplemental instruction, as studies show those who do earn a half to a whole letter grade better than their non-attending counterparts. To view the schedule for SI and find information on the program, please visit the below link:
    • Tutorial Assistance Program: TAP offers small group or individual settings where freshman can receive tutoring in a variety of subjects. Most sessions last an hour and can be scheduled online or in-person. Tutoring is available every day for several hours and can be utilized as many times as you need. This program is especially important for first-year students who are looking for tutorial assistance during their freshman year. Visit this link to sign up for tutoring:
    • Undergraduate Writing Support Center: WSP supports UCR students by offering writing workshops and consultations. Whether they need assistance writing an essay for class or brainstorming ideas for personal statements, they are a highly effective resource for making your writing more potent. For more information on the WSP, please visit the link below:          
  • CARE

    Located in HUB 377, CARE is an intervention and prevention program committed to ending sexual violence at UC Riverside. They provide direct advocacy, resources and prevention educational programming related to issues of sexual assault, relationship violence and stalking for students, staff, faculty and UCR affiliates. To learn more about this program, please visit: https://care.ucr.edu/

  • Career Center

    Located behind the Barnes & Noble Bookstore and across from Skye Hall, the Career Center is particularly beneficial to first-year students exploring career paths. The professionals here can help help you find jobs and fresh internships and how to stand out as an applicant. First-year students can meet with a career specialist and develop a resume, practice interviews, and write cover letters. https://careers.ucr.edu/

  • Costo Hall

    Costo Hall serves as an avenue for inclusion and activism and provides opportunities for students to participate in campus community building. For first-year students looking to get involved, all of the below programs are excellent opportunities:

    • African Student Programs (Costo Hall, 133): Supports, advances and inspires students of African descent. For more information on this program, please click the below link.
    • Asian Pacific Student Programs (Costo Hall, 244): Preserves and promotes the rich cultural fabric of diversity. For more information on this program, please click the below link.
    • Chicano Student Programs (Costo Hall, 145): Creates a positive environment for Chicano/Latino students by offering supportive services and programs that encourage academic success and retention. For more information on how to get involved, please click the below link:
    • LGBTQ Resource Center (Costo Hall, 245): Provides support, sanctuary, education, and advocacy for gender identity expression and sexual orientation to UCR’s campus. To get involved, please click the below link:
    • Middle Eastern Student Resource Center, (HUB, 361): Celebrates community, cultural expression, inclusion and diversity education. To get involved, please visit:
    • Native American Student Programs (Costo Hall, 229): Provides a safe space where students can unite as a community with other American Indian students. For more information, please visit the below link:
    • R'Pantry, (HUB 269): Any student experiencing food insecurity can access free food and hygiene materials at this location once per week. If you would like to know more, please visit the below link:
    • Undocumented Student Programs, (Costo Hall, 224): This program welcomes all DREAMers, students from mixed-status families and undocumented allies. No matter your immigration status or cultural background, this program encourages you to support them. They offer training, internships, textbook assistance and leadership opportunities. To get involved, please visit:
    • Women's Resource Center (Costo Hall, 260): Provides a safe space for students to address gender issues, connect with their campus safety programs and access sexual assault or domestic violence support. They also provide key leadership roles within their program. To get involved, please visit the below link:
  • Education Abroad Office

    Located in Skye Hall, the EAO offers international opportunities that cultivate intercultural understanding. Their programs even cater towards rigorous CNAS majors that have a heavy courseload by allowing students to complete their STEM courses abroad. They promote access to global experiences as an integral part of a UCR education using student support services, including program advising, financial counseling, academic integration, and resource sharing. More details here: https://international.ucr.edu/abroad

  • Health Professions Advising Center (HPAC)

    Located in the Rivera Library basement, HPAC provides information, advising, and support for students who are pursuing graduate or professional programs in the health professions. Students can meet with a student Peer Ambassador as first-years and with an advisor as an upperclassman to get advice on enhancing academic and extracurricular preparation. HPAC offers both in-person and recorded workshops on a variety of topics as well, including how to get involved on campus and more. https://hpac.ucr.edu/

  • California Teach-Science and Mathematics Initiative

    Located in Pierce Hall 1114, SMI aims to increase the number of highly qualified teachers in science and mathematics by providing resources such as CBEST and CSET exam information, student teaching, mentorships, networking opportunities, and financial support. https://smi.ucr.edu/

  • International Students and Scholars Office

    Located in Skye Hall 321, this program Supports and promotes the success, wellness, and personal growth of international students by offering services to feel more comfortable at UCR and information on how to get involved and connect with others. https://international.ucr.edu/studentsandscholars

  • Orbach Library

    The Orbach Science Library provides access to a variety of comfortable seating, group study rooms, computer workstations, and reservable laptops. The first floor Geospatial Resources Collection contains physical maps and atlases, as well as access to GIS systems. The library also houses the Creat'R Lab, the Patent and Trademark Resource Center, and the circulating part of the Water Resources Collections and Archives. Visit this link to search their catalogue, see workshops, and reserve study rooms: https://library.ucr.edu/

  • Tomas Rivera Library

    The Tomás Rivera Library serves as the main library of the campus, providing access to materials in the humanities, social sciences, and arts. Housing more than 2,000,000 volumes, the Rivera Library provides access to a variety of study seating, group study rooms, graduate student carrels, computer workstations and reservable laptops. https://library.ucr.edu/

  • The Registrar's Office

    The Registrar’s office assists students with registration, helps maintain academic records, verifies transcripts, and assists with course catalog maintenance. To contact the registrar with a question, please email reghelpdesk@ucr.edu. They also oversee the academic calendar, which includes registration deadlines, payment information, and the finals schedule, which can be found at the following link: https://registrar.ucr.edu/calendar#first_day_of_class

  • Residence Associations
    • Residence Hall Association: Ensures residents' needs wants are both met and communicated. RHA advises Housing Services in the development of Residence Hall policies, procedures, programs and facilities from the student perspective. To get involved in RHA as a first-year, please visit:
    • Campus Apartment Resident Association: The Campus Apartment Resident Association (CARA) coordinates each of the UCR Campus’ Apartments and Family Housing governing bodies. Meetings are held regularly throughout the academic year. To get involved in RHA as a first-year, please visit:
  • Living-Learning Communities

    Living Learning Communities Offers a unique opportunity for students with common interests and/or identities to live together. LLC’s can help guide students through their academic and social transitions by providing the space to learn and study with one another. Some communities are connected specifically to colleges and/or majors; others are designed for students with a shared background.  https://housing.ucr.edu/living-at-ucr/living-learning-communities

  • Student Computer Labs

    Located in Watkins, INTS, Stats, Sproul and Arts, Student Computing services maintains seven public computer labs, featuring approximately 170 computers available for academic use by all UCR students. With 160 open hours per week, and offerings of PC, MAC, and varying software (i.e. Final Cut Pro, Microsoft Suite, etc.), the student computer labs are perfect for first-year students looking to complete projects on-campus. For more information on our computer labs, please visit: https://cnc.ucr.edu/scs/complabs.html

  • Student Disability Resource Center

    Located in Costo Hall 125, the SDRC advocates for equal access, ability awareness, and empowerment by ensuring students with disabilities are properly accommodated. Services offered include note sharing, test format changes, and alternate transportation services. For additional information, please visit: https://sdrc.ucr.edu/

  • Student Health Services

    Located on the first floor of the Student Health and Counseling Center adjacent to Lot 21, SHS provides high-quality, accessible, and comprehensive medical care to students, including doctor/nurse visits, X-rays, and prescriptions. Other services include access to a pharmacy, laboratory testing, dental and vision care, and vaccinations needed to study abroad. This is particularly important to first-year students looking for on-campus medical services. https://studenthealth.ucr.edu/

  • Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

    Located in the second floor of the Student Health and Counseling Center next to Lot 21, CAPS provides access to mental health resources by providing free, confidential, and professional mental health services. These services include counseling, access to self-help resources, and mental health education. https://counseling.ucr.edu/

  • The Well

    Located in HUB 248, the Well promotes health education, peer engagement, and collaboration. They offer programs that encourage fitness, mental, and sexual health awareness, as well as workshops to educate students on how to navigate college with awareness of general health and wellness. For more information on workshops or peer mentorship opportunities, please visit: https://well.ucr.edu/

  • Student Affairs Case Management

    Located in Costo Hall 125, Student Affairs Case Managers help UCR students dealing with mental health crisis, family stress, and other problems that may be preventing academic success. They provide students with an understanding of available resources and how to access them. https://casemanagement.ucr.edu/

  • Veteran's Resource Center

    Located in Bannockburn H-108, the Veteran's Resource Center supports veteran entry into civilian and university life, and facilitates access to veteran benefits, resources, and mentors to enable degree completion. Students can use the study lounge equipped with computers, free printing, and scantrons. For additional information, please visit: https://veterans.ucr.edu/community

  • Student Success Center

    Located south of the CHASS Interdisciplinary building and west of the Student Services building, the Student Success Center offers many multi-purpose student spaces such as meeting rooms and a student lounge. With a size of about 42,000 square feet, the building holds 1,000 classroom seats with a round lecture hall that encompasses a 360o view of lecture screening. https://pdc.ucr.edu/projects/student-success-center

     

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