First Year Experience

First Year Experience programming is offered through the Title V OPTICA grant. The OPTICA grant aims to support all first-year students with wrap-around, holistic, services to support students transition to college, improve financial literacy, increase career development readiness, and build both personal and academic success strategies.
All first-year students are assigned a First Year Coordinator and First Year Peer Mentors to provide individualized support and success strategies.

Students can meet in-person on the Pueblo Campus or virtually with First Year Coordinators and Peer Mentors. First Year Experience programming (workshops, events and more), are offered throughout the year to connect students with campus resources, support staff, and student clubs/organizations.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Pueblo Community College is a proud Hispanic-Serving Institution and has been for the past 30 years. To be designated an HSI, at least 25% of a college’s student body must be Hispanic. Over 37 % of PCC students identify as Hispanic. PCC has been the recipient of federal Title III and Title V grants to expand its ability to better serve its Hispanic student population. The OPTICA grant is a Title V grant and our mission is to create Onboarding Practices and Teaching to Implement Cultural Awareness (OPTICA).

We strive to foster a diverse and inclusive campus environment. The OPTICA grant provides training and resources intended to promote the integration of DEI approaches into the classroom, individualized appointments, and campus community.

New Student Orientation

Our focus continues to be on your success at PCC--your online orientation is the perfect way to start this exciting time for you! We hope to equip you with valuable insight so that you will confidently start your first day of classes and successfully attain your academic goals.

The online orientation platform is interactive to support your understanding, awareness, and knowledge of valuable support services and resources on campus. You can complete the online orientation in about 20 minutes any time of day! It’s important to complete your online New Student Orientation prior to starting classes at PCC.

Access your New Student Orientation

Support for Success

Meet the Team

First Year Coordinators and First Year Peer Mentors provide initial and on-going support to help new students transition to life as a college student while providing tools and strategies for continued success. Your first year check-in appointment is the starting point on this path. Throughout your first year you will have opportunities to meet with your First Year Coordinator and First Year Peer Mentors mid-way through the semester, during registration for the upcoming semester, and near the end of the semester prior to finals. You will have an opportunity to engage in workshops offered by the team, and join fun activities to develop community, belonging, and a network of support. All First Year students are assigned to the My Courses (D2L) course shell First Year Resource Center where you can access valuable tools and resources as you enter college and beyond your first year.

Our diverse teams of First Year Coordinators and First Year Peer Mentors offer all students an opportunity to connect with others that have similar interests, backgrounds, and experiences.

Your Starting Point

Schedule your individualized first year check-in appointment with your First Year Coordinator and First Year Peer Mentor through Navigate. At this appointment, we will help you get ready to start the semester and finish your first year strong. Here are some topics we will discuss:

Navigating technology such as: setting up your PCC accounts (myPCC Portal, student email, MyCourses, Navigate)
Strategies to be successful inside and outside the classroom
Introducing you to different resources and support staff on campus
Supporting your personal growth through emotional intelligence coaching
Exploring major/career resources and tools
Advancing your financial literacy skills
Answering questions or concerns you may have about your academic journey

Emotional Intelligence Assessment and Coaching

The First Year Coordinators are trained and certified as emotional intelligence coaches. We offer an assessment to any student interested in pursuing this self-awareness and commitment to growth. Students can complete a confidential emotional intelligence assessment (Emotional Quotient Inventory) EQi 2.0. Upon completion, the student will meet with a First Year Coordinator for a debrief/coaching session based on their individual assessment report. Together the coach and student will develop strategies to support personal growth.

Financial Literacy

Students are encouraged to engage in a number of financial literacy tools and strategies. All first year students are enrolled in our First Year Resource Center which offers many resources on financial literacy. PCC students have the unique opportunity to engage in ECMC a financial wellness tool for success in college and beyond. This tool allows students to complete courses relevant to your life while building on your personal financial future.

Culturally Relevant Career Readiness

The OPTICA team provides students with culturally relevant career readiness by harnessing student’s cultural wealth and transforming it into transferrable skills, a positive career map, and creating and sharing your career story/narrative. Students can work in groups or individually with staff to turn your personal story into a career narrative and empower your career readiness.

First Year Experience