Cultivating Community Through Beach XP

At its core, our mission to build community at Cal State Long Beach centers on cultivating a sense of belonging, shared governance, and shared responsibility.  
 
As we orient ourselves around this collective goal, we are redefining what it means to be welcomed onto a university campus. We know that being a student-ready university means we must foster a community of belonging for all students. 

Through Beach XP, a program for incoming first-time, first year students, we aim to equip learners with the resources to establish peer networks, enhance learning, build career connections, and cultivate community through friendship and fun. At the same time, we are bridging partnerships across the university, bringing a holistic campus experience to learners at the beginning of their college journey.  

The foundation of Beach XP is a learning community experience for first year students at CSULB. But with opportunities for skill building, social activities, and resource navigation on our campus, this initiative goes beyond the academic benefits on its face. 

Embedded into cohort schedules is dedicated time for extra-curricular opportunities. From guided meditation to Leadership Academy workshops, an activity hour built into the program will assemble exciting opportunities available across campus and bring them directly to students. To help these new learners navigate the many resources available at CSULB, this time may also incorporate information on basic needs, financial aid, or health and well-being services throughout the semester. 

With an understanding that information resonates more for many students when it comes from their peers, pairing first year learners with a dedicated peer mentor is an essential piece of this initiative. Someone who can help Beach XP learners with all aspects of the program and university life, these mentors are students themselves, enrolled in both undergraduate and graduate school from a variety of programs across The Beach.  

This multi-level and interdisciplinary program engages others beyond the students enrolled in its inaugural classes. Staff members who lead the vital and engaging resources across campus can ensure more students are engaging in their services. Faculty members who teach in the program will be part of a community, too, with regular meetings at The Nugget and networking opportunities.  

And through their role helping first-year students in the program, peer mentors themselves are building lifelong skills, emerging as Certified Peer Educators through the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators  

Beach XP engages all areas of CSULB and unites them for a common goal: To build a university community ready to meet the needs of today’s students.