Welcome to the DVC First Year Experience (FYE) Program!

The FYE Program was designed especially for YOU - the first time college student, to assist in your transition from high school to campus life at DVC. Starting college can be both stressful and exciting, but as part of the DVC FYE community, you have support.

The First Year Experience Program curriculum is designed to engage students by offering various Learning Communities pathways that are both challenging and collaborative. The spirit of the Learning communities is to educate, as you might expect, but to also build community amongst students and faculty.

Read more stories about the First Year Experience Learning Community


The FYE Learning Communities

Each FYE Learning Community cohort will enroll in:

  • A Student Success Counseling course (COUNS-100)
  • English 122 (First-Year Composition and Reading)
  • Math 121L (Plane Trigonometry) or 142 (Elementary Statistics with Probability)
  • A major specific course (CHEM-108, BUS-109, PSYCH-101, or COMM 120)

Expand to learn more about each FYE Learning Community and take a look at the detailed schedule! 

Allied Health

Allied Health

Science and Health icon

Allied Heath FYE is a an Interest Area Pathway for students wishing to pursue career in an allied health science. Careers include but are not limited to Nursing, Dental Hygiene, Radiography, Sonography, Physical Therapy, and Occupational Health. The Allied Heath Pathway satisfies common prerequisites for various health-related programs and provides students with foundational knowledge in human anatomy, physiology and microbiology.

Fall 2024 Sample Schedule
Class Units Details Days Times
CHEM - 108 4 Introductory Chemistry TTH 12:45PM-2:10PM
COUNS - 100 1 New Student Success Strategies T 11:00AM-12:05PM
ENGL - 122 3 First-Year Composition and Reading MW 9:35AM-11:00AM
MATH - 142 4 Elementary Statistics with Probability MW 12:45PM-2:45PM
Business 

Business

Business icon

Business FYE is an Interest Area Pathway for students who are interested in transfer to a 4-year university in a Business or Economics major. Students in this Pathway will gain an overview of the theory and practice of modern business along with exposure to career options including business administration, management, marketing, finance, accounting, human resources, entrepreneurship, and international business.

Fall 2024 Sample Schedule
Class Units Details Days Times
BUS - 109 3 Introduction to Business MW 12:45PM-2:30PM
COUNS - 100 1 New Student Success Strategies T 9:30AM - 10:35AM
ENGL - 122 3 First-Year Composition and Reading MW 9:35AM - 11:00AM
MATH - 142L 4 Elementary Statistics with Probability TTH 11:10AM - 2:15PM
Communication

Communication

Communications icon

Communication FYE is an Interest Area Pathway for students considering majors in areas such as Language Arts, Social Science, Arts, Humanities, Liberal Arts and more. A communication course is a common general education requirement for transfer, and effective communication are central to success in many fields. Thus, students may use this Pathway to complete requirements and gain skills to serve them in a wide array of majors and careers.

Fall 2024 Sample Schedule
Class Units Details Days Times
COMM - 120 3 Public Speaking MW 12:45PM - 2:10PM
COUNS - 100 1 New Student Success Strategies T 9:30AM - 10:35AM
ENGL - 122 3 First-Year Composition and Reading MW 9:35AM - 11:00AM
MATH - 142L 4 Elementary Statistics and Probability TTH 11:10AM - 2:15PM
Psychology 

Psychology

Social Sciences icon

Psychology FYE is an Interest Area Pathway for students who are interested in studying human thought, feeling and behavior. This Pathway is a starting point for students considering transfer to a 4-year university in a psychology major and a future career in a helping profession. Examples of these professions include Psychotherapy, Social Work, Educational Counseling, Psychological Research and Instruction.

Fall 2024 Sample Schedule
Class Units Details Days Times
COUNS - 100 1 New Student Success Strategies M 9:30AM-10:35AM
ENGL - 122 3 First-Year Composition and Reading TTH 9:35AM - 11:00AM
MATH - 142L 4 Elementary Statistics and Probability MW 11:10AM - 2:15PM
PSYCH - 101 3 Introduction to Psychology TTH 12:45PM-2:10PM
STEM

STEM

STEM icon

STEM FYE is an Interest Area Pathway for students wishing to transfer to a 4-year university in a science, technology, engineering or math major. Examples of these majors include Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Physics and Environmental Science. The STEM Pathway includes a sequence of math and science courses along with various types of support for students to succeed in this rigorous program of study.

Fall 2024 Sample Schedule for Trigonometry 
Class Units Details Days Times
COUNS - 100 1 Student Success TTH 11:10AM-12:15PM
ENGL - 122 3 First-Year Composition and Reading TTH 9:35AM-11:00AM
MATH - 121L 3 Plane Trigonometry MW 9:35AM - 12:05PM
Fall 2024 Sample Schedule for Pre-Calculus 
Class Units Details Days Times
COUNS-100 1 Student Success TTH 11:10AM-12:15PM
ENGL-122 3 First Year Composition and Reading TTH 9:35AM-11:00AM
MATH 191/091 3 Pre-Calculus MW 9:35AM-12:35PM

 


Program Eligibility, Benefits, Support, and Expectations

Program Eligibility

The ideal candidate for FYE:

  • If it is your first time taking college classes after high school 
  • First person in your family to go to college
  • Interested in joining a supportive group with other first year students
  • Eligible for English-122 (College Reading and Composition)
Program Benefits

FYE Program benefits include:

  • Connection with a cohort of students with similar interests and goals
  • Guaranteed spots in high demand classes
  • Specialized attention from FYE faculty, staff, and counseling
  • Opportunity to explore your academic and career interests
  • Free tutoring (academic support) and access to College Success Workshops
  • Faster pathway to achieving goals!
  • Free tuition programs!
Program Support

FYE includes the following support for new students:

  • Take linked classes as a community with the same students
  • Supportive instructors and free tutoring 
  • Connection with an FYE Peer Advisor 
  • A class on College Success Strategies (Counseling 100)
  • Student College Success Workshops
  • FYE Social events to build your community and promote your success
Program Expectations

Students are expected to 

  • Attend the FYE Registration Session 
  • Attend the FYE Orientation
  • Attend Welcome Day 
  • Participate in regularly scheduled study groups 
  • Meet with their FYE Peer Advisor twice a semester
  • Attend College Success Workshops

Applying to the FYE Program

Step 1: Complete the DVC Application
Apply to DVC

Contact DVC Welcome Services for assistance.


Step 2: Complete the FYE Program Application
Apply to the FYE Program

Contact dvcfye@dvc.edu for assistance.


Step 3: Attend an FYE Registration Session 
You will receive a call from the FYE Program Coordinator to help you register for your courses. For further support, you will attend the registration sessions happening throughout the summer. 
Step 4: Attend a Mandatory FYE Orientation

Attend a mandatory FYE Orientation, where you will learn more about program requirements/expectations, meet the team, and receive your student contract. 


Step 5: Complete the FAFSA (Optional)
Complete your FAFSA now!

Contact DVC Financial Aid Office for assistance.

 


Contact Us:

Phone: 925-969-3012
Email: dvcfye@dvc.edu
Office: PUMA Center 136
Instagram: @dvcfye
YouTube Channel: DVC First Year Experience

Meet the FYE Team: 

Ada Ocampo-Pedroza
Manager of Student Early College Experiences & Student Engagement
Phone: 925-969-2356
Email: aocampo@dvc.edu
Office: SVRC 106/PUMA Center 107


Ramiro Ibarra,  FYE Program Coordinator
Phone: 925-969-3012
Email: dvcfye@dvc.edu
Office: PUMA Center 136


Lisa Dulberg,  FYE Counselor
Phone: 925-969-3012
Email: ldulberg@dvc.edu
Office: PUMA Center 

 

Meet the FALL 2024 FYE Faculty:

Business Faculty

Staff  

Chemistry Faculty

Dr. Cory Antonakos

DVC Chemistry Faculty

Email: cantonakos@dvc.edu 

Communication Faculty

Patrick Moe
DVC Performing Arts/Communication Faculty

Email: pmoe@dvc.edu

Counseling Faculty

Lisa Dulberg
DVC Counseling Faculty

Email: ldulberg@dvc.edu


Linda Ruiz
DVC  Counseling Faculty

Email: lruiz@dvc.edu


Emmanuel Perez
DVC Counseling Faculty

Email: eperez@dvc.edu

English Faculty

Carol Brown
DVC English Faculty

Phone: 925-685-1230, ext. 77186
Email: cbrown@dvc.edu


Louise Laemmlen
DVC English Faculty

Email: llaemmlen@dvc.edu


Richard Cartwright
DVC English Faculty

Email: rcartwright@losmedanos.edu


Hajera Ghori
DVC English Faculty

Email: hghori@dvc.edu


Jason Jackl
DVC English Faculty

Email: jjackl@dvc.edu

Mathematics Faculty

Sarah McCarter
DVC Mathematics Faculty

Email: SMcCarter@dvc.edu 

Frederick Vincent
DVC Mathematics Faculty

Email: fvincent@dvc.edu

John Vanderbilt
DVC Mathematics Faculty

Email: jvanderbilt@dvc.edu 

Ronald Page
DVC Mathematics Faculty

Email: rpage@dvc.edu

Elizabeth Matlock
DVC Mathematics Faculty

 Email: ematlock@dvc.edu 

Brian Raymond
DVC Mathematics Faculty

Email: braymond@dvc.edu 

Social Science Faculty

Dana Busche
DVC Social Science Faculty


Email: dkrider@dvc.edu