First Year Experience
Discover Your Potential. Achieve Your Goals.
The First Year Experience (FYE) program is part of the Student Success department at CCSJ. We support all first year students as they acclimate to college and decide what success in college means for them. Our program promotes student engagement and learning. We meet with students to provide direct support in relation to their personal and academic needs, which contributes to the students’ overall success and retention at CCSJ.
Our goal is to ensure that students have a positive college experience and take advantage of the resources and services CCSJ has that can support them on the path toward graduation. Throughout the year we collect student feedback to support further efforts towards student success.
Helping You Thrive
Some of the services we provide include:
- One-on-one appointments to build rapport and support students
- Early Academic Alerts to ensure students stay on track with their coursework
- Building connection, a sense of belonging, and personal development
- Referrals to different campus resources
We are available Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm in person by appointment, email, Zoom, and phone.
To make an appointment with your FYE Coach, please click here:
Your Journey Begins Here
A message to our students:
This might be a time where you have many questions and concerns. You might be excited, anxious, nervous, or overwhelmed…and that’s okay. First Year Experience is here to support students in making the most of their time at CCSJ. We aim to engage and empower students in overcoming personal and academic challenges and in connecting them to campus resources and opportunities.
Your student success coach is here to help students navigate their way through the various offices, programs, and services offered here at Calumet College to figure out what support works best for them. We care about your well-being and are committed to helping you succeed here and beyond.
Launch Your College Experience
New Student Orienation:
Congratulations on your decision to attend Calumet College of St. Joseph! The next four years will be among the most exciting and memorable of your life.
Once you have registered for classes, you will receive information on how to register for orientation. All first year students are required to attend New Student Orientation. We highly encourage all new students to attend. Our next New Student Orientation will be on Thursday, August 20th, 2026.
During New Student Orientation, you will:
- Learn everything you’ll need to know for your transition to Calumet College
- Connect with your future classmates, current students, faculty, and staff.
- Find out about student services and resources that will help you succeed.
Your education for the next several years is very important to you and to us. Your journey starts here, YOU BELONG!
Learn from Students Who've Been There
Peer Ambassador Program:
The Peer Ambassador Program here at CCSJ works to connect all new and incoming students with established upperclassmen in order to further assist with the transition from high school to college. Our Peer Ambassadors have completed NASPA Peer Education training and work as mentors, guides, and friends for all students. Whether you’re looking for a study partner, someone to grab lunch with in the Crimson cafe, or just another classmate to talk with, your Peer Ambassador is here to help.
More information about the 2026-2027 Peer Ambassador program coming soon.
Your First Year Course
GENL-100 is a required course for all new CCSJ students that introduces you to the academic, personal, and community aspects of college life. The course introduces students to the learning experience at Calumet College of St. Joseph, providing a foundational experience that introduces both academic and non-academic components of attending college.
Students become more comfortable at CCSJ, address their concerns about college, understand the expectations of college students, and encounter CCSJ history and traditions, helping them to feel that they are becoming part of a distinctive community. This is a required course for all new students to CCSJ (freshman and transfer). This course will meet weekly in-person on campus and use Brightspace, Cengage, and campus activities/events to complete coursework. Three major areas covered include:
Students will know the types of support services and resources offered by the Specker Library, the Student Success Center, Career Services, the Student Assistance Program, and Disability Services.
Students will understand the university’s mission and vision, history, traditions, and values.
Students will learn and apply academic skills, including time management, note taking and test taking to improve academic performance.
Students will exercise critical thinking and reflection to improve academic performance.
Students will use campus support services to improve academic performance and manage personal challenges.
Students will explore their sense of purpose, meaning, and direction as they begin their college experience.
Students will practice the skills of self-reflection and self-exploration.
Students will connect personal interests, values, and strengths with potential academic majors, goals, and career paths.
