Occidental College

California Immigration Semester

The CIS Experience

Investing time and energy to meet the rigorous demands of the California Immigration Semester is a rewarding experience.

Paige: "CIS was a fantastic way for me to start my life at Oxy. The encouragement and guidance from my professors as well as my peers certainly eased the transition to college. The courses were challenging and stimulating, and certainly brought a new perspective to my life. It is an experience I will never forget!"

Dina: "CIS has changed the way I look at all the different communities we interact with on a daily basis. It opened my eyes to the struggles immigrants face today, and how important the immigrant issue is today in the United States."

Eleni: "CIS was the perfect first-year, first-semester experience for me. It allowed me to comfortably transition into the college experience with a personal group atmosphere and a large amount of support from the professors. Though the work load was initially overwhelming, the support of the professors inspires you to work hard and trust your abilities to do well in an academic setting."

Alex: "My favorite aspect of CIS was that it was, in many ways, a great transition from high school to college. Having all of my classes with the same people helped me develop close friendships in my first semester. Also, the team of professors really seemed to care for our success and learning. They were very helpful and got to know us as people."

Zoë: "My time in the California Immigration Semester is one of my best memories of college so far. … I won’t lie—the work was long, arduous, and at times I had to choose between my grade and sleep. Yet it forced me to push myself to work harder than I ever had before, and to become more analytical in my thinking. I feel that as a scholar, I definitely grew from the workload that the professors assigned and was prepared for what my professors next semester assigned. … The professors did a wonderful job balancing outings in between the more work-heavy parts of the semester, giving us a break when we could afford it and when we needed it. I loved CIS, and would recommend it to any incoming first-year interested in California or immigration issues."

Benyapa: "Thank you so much for the CIS experience. Our fieldwork and multiple outings in Los Angeles immersed me in the subject matter and provided me with a well-rounded understanding of immigration in California. I’ve gained meaningful relationships with my peers, the CIS professors, and the staff at Annandale Elementary School where we conducted fieldwork and where I continue to volunteer today. Overall, CIS has prepared me for a rigorous and engaging college experience and I am confident I will continue to draw on lessons learned."

Luis: "CIS was a very rewarding experience and best college experience for me. Whether you lean liberal or conservative, CIS will challenge your beliefs about immigration. The CIS professors will provide studies, scholarly papers, arguments and debates from both sides of the political spectrum. [The professors] truly cared about me, and my fellow classmates, when it came to the advancement of our academic career. CIS is one of the best opportunities and offerings that Occidental can provide a first-year."

 

Have questions for past CIS students?  Go to:

www.facebook.com/CaliforniaImmigrationSemester

  • Email: cecilia@oxy.edu
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