Join us each week for an unforgettable magic carpet ride as we discuss themes from Disney movies that relate to your experience at UC Davis. We understand that UC Davis is not such a small world after all, and we look forward to making it a place where all your dreams really do come true! 

Members of this Connection will be introduced to topics that support student success as well as personal growth and development in the first year, with a sprinkle of pixie dust and Disney magic each week. 

Participant input will be strongly encouraged to generate topics and movies for weekly session. For example, we may consider lessons from Toy Story or Lilo and Stitch about finding community in your new home. Movies like Mulan and Hercules have something to teach us about working hard in this new academic environment. The movies Tangled, Up, and Moana demonstrate the importance of stepping out of your comfort zone and being open to new experiences. And the importance of accepting our emotions and managing our mental and physical wellbeing as new college students has parallels with the movies Inside Out and Soul. 

Disney lovers unite! 

Aggie 101, Art, Music, Entertainment

Looking forward to seeing the adorable cows or learning about the UC Davis Olive Oil? Well, did you know that if you keep track of essential and quintessential UC experiences, you can earn a medal? Aggie Traditions, one of Davis’ best-kept secrets, is a compilation of fun and unique "must experience" activities that every Aggie should know about and do during their time at UCD. Upon completion of the traditions, students can earn a medal to wear during commencement (which is also one of the traditions)! This Connection is open to anyone looking to learn about UC Davis, immerse yourself in campus culture, and work towards earning your medal!

Aggie 101

Explore ASUCD - Find out where you can work on campus and be able to drive a double-decker bus, host a concert, bake delicious desserts, repair your bike, write an article, be a radio DJ, organize food donations and so much more - and get paid while doing it! ASUCD is UC Davis’ Associated Students, the home of Aggies serving Aggies. With an annual operating budget over $19 million dollars, every student has a place, community or space to call home. At ASUCD the students are at the heart of UC Davis, providing student jobs, internships, volunteer opportunities and services.

In this Connection we'll learn about some of the best places to get involved and find on-campus jobs that are among the highest paying, most rewarding, with the most flexible hours. Together we will explore over a dozen student run businesses that may include:

The CoHo (Coffee House) largest Northern California restaurant
The Bike Barn – Student Run bike shop
Unitrans – UCD bus system
The Pantry - free food and basic essentials
The California Aggie Newspaper
KDVS 90.3FM - UC Davis’ 13,000 watt radio station
Picnic Day, Whole Earth Festival and Entertainment Council
Student Government
ASUCD Garden – 5-acre garden on campus

Most students don't find out about these opportunities and get involved until at least their second year. It's time to get a head start by exploring campus, get involved, and start earning while you learn during your first year!

Aggie 101

Bring Your A Game: 7 Habits of the Highly Effective Transfer Student is intended for new transfer students who know what it means to be successful and don't want to be tripped up in their transition to UC Davis. This course is for students who want to maximize their time while at UC Davis, develop success strategies to achieve educational and personal goals, and avoid being that transfer student who dreams big but spends valuable time setting vague expectations for their life with no real vision of success. In this seven week connection we will focus on the elements that lead to practical and actionable habits that can be be applied to reaching your goals. 

Thrive, Your Aggie Network, Aggie 101

Not able to bring your furry friend to college? Then join us as we learn about the community cats that call UC Davis home. Take time out of your busy schedule to learn more about campus and connect with fellow cat-lovers. We'll be using the campus cat map to spot some of campus' well known cats like Oreo (the Voorhies cat), Cheeto (the iconic Physics cat), and Bandit (the black and white cat who lives with the cows). We'll explore academic, volunteer, and research opportunities at UC Davis related to cats. We'll even get behind-the-scenes tours of some of UC Davis's premiere feline facilities like the Vet Med Teaching Hospital. Please be aware, we will be walking around campus during each week's meeting in search of cats, wind, rain or shine. This Connection is facilitated by two crazy cat ladies, both named Rachel!

Aggie 101

Biking is one of the most iconic aspects of UC Davis culture and tradition and Davis is a special place with bike infrastructure that most cities don't have. The vast majority of first-year students don't have access to cars, and three quarters of regular Davis commuters don't bring a car to campus. So don't feel trapped without a car because at UC Davis bicycling and other methods of transportation aren't "alternative," they're the norm! 

This Connection is hosted by two experienced and knowledgeable bicycling enthusiasts and is a place where students who are new to campus can come learn about bicycling in Davis, campus culture, and simple rules of the road. Come learn how to keep your bike healthy, how to maintain the three most important parts (chain, tires, and brakes), and how to work less for more speed as an efficient and effective rider. This is an inclusive group for experienced bicyclist, those who are ""bike curious,"" and those without any experience who may be intimidated at the thought of navigating a campus bike circle. Sessions will consist of group discussions and may include on-campus fieldtrips to places like the Bike Barn. We will not be riding bikes during group meetings.

Additionally, we will learn how to use Unitrans (the Davis bus system) so you can get anywhere around town without a car, even go shopping at Target. We'll learn how to use the Yolobus system (county transit) to get to-and-from the airport (save $50 on that Uber trip!). We even have the Causeway Connection bus to the UCD health campus, which is the quickest and easiest way to get to Sacramento for FREE. You'll gain knowledge of ALL of your transportation options so you can go anywhere you want without a car, which most students only learn how to do into their second year. 

Aggie 101

Are you worried about your writing assignments at UC Davis? Everyone has to write, whether it be research essays, emails, or lab reports, but sometimes it can feel intimidating. You are not alone! This FYAC is open to all students from all majors who want to learn how to succeed as a writer at UC Davis.

 Maybe you are…
a first year taking a UWP class and you’ve never written a college essay before,
a transfer student taking an upper division sociology class and you’re unsure about UC Davis writing expectations, or
a STEM major taking a humanities class and you’re nervous about writing outside of your major.

If you can relate to any of these or if you just want to talk to your peers about writing, come join our community to learn about resources and support available to you.

Each week, we’ll focus on what will help you be a better writer. For example, we will
visit Shields Library and speak to a librarian about research writing 
talk through how to reduce anxiety about writing
discuss writing assignments you’re seeing in your classes
explore campus resources where you can get help with your writing like the Academic Assistance and Tutoring Centers
Come and join us!

Aggie 101, Master Minds

Through food, we are able to form connections with one another, explore different cultures, and establish a sense of community. Regardless of whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert, where you come from, or the path that brought you to UC Davis, food has the power to bring us together through a shared commonality.

Together, we will explore food spots in the downtown Davis community. This group is for transfer students who are interested in sharing their culture through food and learning about the Davis food scene. Participants will gain a sense of community, exposure to different cultures/environments and to have a positive first step in your introduction to UC Davis. We all got to eat. Welcome to the table. Can we take your order?

**The cost of some group outings will be covered by the facilitators, during other outings, students will have the option to cover their own costs if they wish to purchase something

Aggie 101, Identity

If you're a new student and the first in your family to attend college, join this group to connect with fellow first-gen students like yourself. This is an exclusive opportunity for new students in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES). Join the CAES Academic Advisors as we build community and develop strategies for becoming a successful Aggie from the start! We'll cover topics like adjusting to the quarter system, time management, and using resources on campus (both academic and others). 

Aggie 101, Identity, Your Aggie Network, Master Minds

If you're a new first-year student and the first in your family to attend college, join this group to connect with fellow first-gen students like yourself. This is an exclusive opportunity for new students in the College of Engineering (COE). Join the COE Academic Advisors as we build community, learn how to navigate campus resources (both academic and non-academic), and develop strategies for becoming a successful Aggie from the start! 

Aggie 101, Identity, Master Minds, Your Aggie Network