Your First Year at UCR: The First Year Learning Community is Built for Your Success
Your first year in the Bourns College of Engineering has a secret weapon: our First Year Learning Community (FYLC). This program places you and other students with the same major in core classes like math, science, and engineering. This built-in community is designed to provide you with a support network and a ready-made study group from day one. You'll move through your foundational courses together, making it easier to collaborate, connect, and thrive as you begin your college journey. The first year learning community is meant to:
- Foster the development of close academic and social relationships through community building.
- Support the academic and social transition needed to meet the challenges of a rigorous engineering curriculum.
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Guide, promote, and enhance first-year engineering students' pursuit of academic excellence.
What are the benefits of being a member of an Engineering First Year Learning Community?
Clustering students encourages the development of an engineering identity and group pursuit of academic excellence.
Ready-Made Support Networks!
Even the most proactive first year students wander alone, most often aimlessly, trying to establish connections to support their academic success. Students who join the Engineering First Year Learning Community have the advantage of being part of a pre-existing ready-made network. EFLC members don’t work by themselves; from day one they are part of a team focused on achieving academic excellence.
Guaranteed To Get The Classes You Need!
Registering for classes, a daunting task for most first year students is streamlined and simplified significantly for members of an Engineering First Year Learning Community. Seats are reserved for Engineering Learning Community members to guarantee that they get the courses they want and the accompanying enrichment services.
Stronger Connection and Identification with Engineering!
The first year in Engineering is filled with foundational courses that are shared throughout the entire University. In a large lecture, you might be surrounded by students who may not spend 40 hours each week studying. In fact, the likelihood is that you may never get to know the student next to you and might miss an important connection. The Engineering First Year Learning Community encourages bonding among Engineering students and the development of an Engineering identity. From day one, you never have to guess if the student next to you understands what it’s like to be an Engineering major. Bonding opportunities with other Engineering students happens immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What specific courses will I be enrolled in as part of the FYLC block?
Based on your math placement and major, your learning community block can include Math, Chemistry, Physics, or other engineering-related courses, such as Math 005A, PHYS 040A, CHEM 001A/LA, and others. All the courses in your block will help you progress in your major.
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Will registering for the FYLC conflict with other courses I have to take or want to take (e.x., general education requirements, specific electives)?
We do our best to avoid time conflicts as much as possible. However, it is possible that your Learning Community block course(s) may conflict with a class you want to take. If this is the case for a major-specific course, please check all offerings of the course to see if there are any other sections that do not conflict with your block. If it is a breadth course that conflicts with your block, please plan for an alternative breadth course.
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When do I register for my learning community block?
When your registration ticket opens, your learning community block options will be the first thing you see. You will not be able to register for other courses until you successfully register for your learning community block.
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What happens if a course in the FYLC block is full?
If you register for a learning community block and you receive a “Closed” error, this means that there are no more seats available for your cohort in this particular section. Please try registering for an alternative block option. If all the blocks are giving a full course error, please email the Learning Community Coordinator.
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Can I make changes to my schedule after registering, even if I'm in the FYLC?
Once you register for your Learning Community block, the courses included in the block cannot be changed, swapped, or removed from your schedule. The other courses you enroll in after registering for your block can be adjusted.
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What is the “ARC 080” class that is part of every block?
ARC 080 is a placeholder course that lets you and your advisor know that you are part of the BCOE First Year Learning Community. This course is also connected to your supplemental instruction section
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What exactly is Supplemental Instruction (SI)?
Supplemental Instruction (SI) is an academic assistance program that uses peer-led group study to help students succeed in traditionally difficult courses. The session activities are created with the faculty teaching the course that the section is for.
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Is attendance at SI sessions mandatory?
Yes, attending SI is mandatory. BCOE requires that all students part of the BCOE First-Year Learning Community attend SI at least once a week. If you do not see an SI section for your course, or if it conflicts with your schedule, please email the Learning Community Coordinator for instructions.
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How do I find out the schedule and location of the SI sessions for my courses?
You can find the SI schedule here on the Academic Resource Center website: https://arc.ucr.edu/si#schedule
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I’m not able to sign up for an SI session. Who can help me with this?
If you are having trouble logging into Accudemia, please visit the Academic Resource Center at Skye Hall 156 or email their office at arc@ucr.edu.
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Who do I contact if I have problems or questions during the registration process?
You can email the Learning Community coordinator at bcoefylc@ucr.edu and make sure to include your name, major, and Student ID number (SID) that starts with 86 in your email. Please allow up to 5 business days for a response.
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If I decide the FYLC isn't the right fit for me after the quarter starts, can I change my course schedule and leave the block?
If you are thinking about dropping your learning community block and opting out of the BCOE Learning Community, please speak to your academic advisor first to make sure this is an appropriate decision. See our website for information on how to contact your advisor: https://student.engr.ucr.edu/contact-my-advisor
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I decided to opt out of the BCOE Learning Community. Can I keep the class that was given to me in the block, or can I opt back in later?
Students who choose to opt out of the learning community will not be able to register for a seat in a course that was previously reserved for them or opt back in at a later time. Opting out of the Learning Community is final.