This Connection will focus on the four pillars of basic needs: access to healthy food options; affordable housing; mental wellness; and financial stability. Participants in this Connection will learn about food resources on the UCD campus, learn how to budget financial aid, find affordable housing options, and learn about renter's rights!

#aggie101, #thrive

Not able to bring your furry best 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 spotlighting the Veihmeyer cats, Cheeto the Physics cat, Compost the student farm cat, and many more! We'll even connect with feline behavioral researchers and explore academic, volunteer, and research opportunities at UC Davis related to cats. Please be aware, we will be walking around campus during each week's meeting in search of cats. This Connection is facilitated by two crazy cat ladies (both named Rachel)!

#aggie101

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 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.

#aggie101

Many students express that they want to be a part of something bigger than themselves. When thinking about how you can create change, do you often ask yourself: What can I do, I am only one person? Many of us feel that the problems we face are too big to tackle or wonder if our individual actions can really make a difference. This Connection will help you begin shaping your passion and purpose by 1) demystifying what it means to be a leader, 2) exploring your identity, strengths, and unique talents, 3) understanding different pathways for service and community engagement, and 4) creating an Aggie Action Plan! Come ready to engage and have fun as we help ignite the change maker within!

#staywoke, #aggie101, #thrive

Are you the first in your family to attend college? Do you find yourself wishing you heard about opportunities sooner? Join this group and connect with fellow first-gen students as we learn how to navigate campus resources (both academic and non-academic), connections to careers and graduate school, and how to be a successful Aggie right out the gate! Each week's topic varies and we will be tailoring some class topics to what YOU want and need to know. Past themes have included: "what are office hours?", how to self care, finding community at UCD, balancing jobs with school, how to get an internship, the importance of networking as an undergraduate, scholarships, study abroad, and many more!

#aggie101, #identity

Get oriented to the Library and learn information research tips from UC Davis librarians so you will excel as a student. Knowing how to navigate the Library will help you produce quality projects and assignments and enhance your confidence as a scholar.

#braingains, #aggie101

Congrats, you made it to college! Prepare yourself to learn A LOT from textbooks, lectures and labs. But what about lessons on life? Negotiating through conflicts? Living life with integrity? Skills that go beyond the classroom? Come learn and discuss some life lessons distilled from best-selling books "Ride of a Lifetime" by Bob Iger (CEO of Disney), "Never Split the Difference" by Chris Voss (former FBI hostage negotiator), "Made to Stick" by Dan Heath, and "Integrity" by Henry Cloud. Meetings will be discussion-based, so just come ready to hang out, make new friends, and equip yourself with some practical tools for success in your academic career and beyond!

#aggie101, #thrive

Is your Instagram feed fire and your snapchat & IG stories always blowing up? Whether you take your pics on your camera phone or a Digital SLR, this Connection is for you. Explore tools you need to navigate your first year at UC Davis while documenting every step of the way. #New2Davis #ourUCDavis #AggieInstaMeet

#ArtMusicCulture, #aggie101

In this Connection, students from rural areas will have the opportunity to meet other students from small towns. Together we will explore the UC Davis community and facilities as well as our own diversity as a unique student group. We will discuss the unique backgrounds that we all come from while reflecting on the advantages and disadvantages rural life has upon our academic choices. This Connection will engage new UC Davis students by attending short informational lectures, engaging in group experiences, and group discussions. Although this Connection is open to all new Aggies, it is intended for students who are transitioning from a rural community to UC Davis.

#aggie101, #identity, #staywoke

Grab a warm mug of coffee or tea and meet us for a walk in the Arboretum! Come get your blood flowing in the morning as we kick start the day and explore one of the best places on campus. Rain or shine!

#aggie101, #thrive