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Frequently Asked Questions
The PBLC Office is here to support all first-year students at Cal Poly Humboldt. Use this page to find more information about our programs and offerings. Our frequently asked questions are organized into a few different sections, as shown by the buttons below. Select a button to jump to the section you’re curious about.
Have a specific question not answered here? Email us at pblc@humboldt.edu. We’re happy to help answer any and all questions about Cal Poly Humboldt and the PBLCs!
Participating in Place-Based Learning Communities
All first-time first-year students entering at Cal Poly Humboldt in the fall semester will be part of a Place-Based Learning Community! Check out our list of learning communities to learn more about all the Learning Communities at Cal Poly Humboldt.
While all our Place-Based Learning Communities follow the same model, the content is tailored based on the students in each. Our PBLCs are major-based. Students will be automatically placed in a PBLC based on their declared major. The content in those PBLCs is tailored to those majors.
Our PBLCs are designed by the faculty and staff in specific departments. They decide the courses and the activities that are the best fit for their first-year students. What makes most sense for one major may not be the best path for another. If you’ve got specific questions about an individual PBLC, email us at pblc@humboldt.edu.
If you think another Place-Based Learning Community is a better fit for you, email us at pblc@humboldt.edu and let us know! Be sure to include the reason another PBLC might fit better, your declared major, and your Student ID Number. You can find your ID number in your myHumboldt Student Center.
That’s okay! One of the goals with the Place-Based Learning Communities is to do exactly that– to help you figure out if the major you chose is the right fit for you. With that in mind, many of the courses that you’ll be enrolled in as part of PBLC will count towards your general education requirements. That means that if you switch majors, you’ll still get credit towards graduation for the courses you’ve already taken. As part of a PBLC, you’ll have a community of folks who are here to help you find the right path for you. If you’d like to talk with an advisor about what major might be the best fit for you, reach out to our Academic Advising Center.
Yes! Please email us at pblc@humboldt.edu so we can connect you with an advisor to learn more about that Place-Based Learning Community and make sure it’s the right path for you.
We work with IDP students and their advisor to find the right Place-Based Learning Community for them. Please email us at pblc@humboldt.edu so we can connect you with an advisor to learn more about all our PBLCs and which might be the best fit for you.
All first-time first-year students at Cal Poly Humboldt will be in a Place-Based Learning Community. That being said, we know that all our students are different and have different needs. We work with students one-on-one to find the experience that makes sense for them. If you’ve got specific questions about the PBLC experience, email us at pblc@humboldt.edu to share what you think would work best for you. Be sure to include your Student ID Number and your declared major. You can find your ID number in your myHumboldt Student Center.
Courses
Registration for first-time first-year students is in June. Keep an eye on your email for communications from Cal Poly Humboldt about that process!
If you’re having difficulty registering for courses, please contact the Academic Advising Center for support.
During registration, you’ll be prompted to add courses depending on the available information we have. For example, if you already have AP Credit for English and the Registrar has received this score, you won’t be prompted to register for an English course. However, if you’ve taken the test, but we haven’t received your score, you will be prompted to add an English course. For questions about sending your transcripts / scores, please contact the Registrar’s Office.
Your final fall schedule should have between 13-17 units. If your prompted courses fall below this number, please contact the Academic Advising Center for guidance in filling out the rest of your schedule.
The guided enrollment courses are designed to meet major and general education requirements, so the units you take will count towards graduation. The MAPs recommend when to take the courses for your major, but it doesn’t have to be followed exactly. While the MAPs are a useful tool to gauge if you’re on track, each student’s experience is diverse. If you’d like to discuss your particular MAP and courses, please reach out to the Academic Advising Center.
Continuing students register months before first year students, so we reserve seats for PBLC students in courses that we know are important for them to take in their first year. This means when you go to register for courses, you’ll be prompted to add particular sections with reserved seats for your PBLC. Reserved seats cannot be held past August 1st, so register early to get access to the most course options!
Welcome Week
Welcome Week is the week prior to the start of fall classes. The events during this week are mandatory and directly connected to the courses students take in the fall.
Yes! Welcome Week is where you’ll learn important information, such as your rights and responsibilities as a student at Cal Poly Humboldt. The events during this week are mandatory and directly connected to the courses students take in the fall. Missing those events could set you behind. You will also get the opportunity to meet your faculty, peers, and participate in field trips related to your Place-Based Learning Community!
Nope! All mandatory Welcome Week activities are free to attend.
For most off-campus field trips, meals will be provided for students. For students with meal plans, those meal plans will be activated for their use while on-campus.
For all mandatory Welcome Week field trips, you will be provided with transportation between campus and the field sites. If you need specific accommodations, please email us at pblc@humboldt.edu.
We encourage students to bring warm clothing that can be layered for field trips and outdoor activities, and comfortable walking shoes. Students are expected to wear closed-toed shoes during all lab activities in Welcome Week. Any equipment students need for field trips or lab activities will be provided for them.
We want to do our best to make sure all activities and events are accessible for all students. Please email us at pblc@humboldt.edu so we can make sure to accommodate what you need.
Additional Questions
If you have any other questions, please contact our office at (707) 826-5946 or by email at pblc@humboldt.edu.
Housing & Residence Life is the best contact for information about housing, but we encourage you to fill out your housing application as soon as possible to secure a spot in your top choice!
Currently, our PBLCs are only open for first-time first-year students. We encourage transfer students to check out the Transfer Student Organization for more transfer-centered resources and activities!