The 2-year-old Year2Malibu program offers sophomores in the “Malibu program” trips and events as a source for camaraderie, bonding and adventure similar to those boasted about by their International Program peers.
The sophomore experience, through Year2Malibu, is designed to parallel experiences abroad and make Malibu more appealing to the incoming sophomore classes.
In a memorandum to President Andrew K. Benton from Associate Dean of Student Affairs Tabatha L. Jones Jolivet, the Year2Malibu experience was proposed as a pilot program in which a task force would develop and plan educational trips for sophomores in Malibu.
Jolivet designed the program to “promote existing support services that deepen academic integration and capitalize on the benefits of the second-year residential requirement by integrating signature events into the newly-established theme houses for sophomores.”
This year, Year2Malibu works with the Student Programming Board and the Student Government Association. As part of the experience, a committee of Resident Assistants and Resident Directors developed six theme houses for all sophomores living on campus.
Sophomore theme houses include the Adventure House, L.E.A.D. House, Pepperdine Arts District House, Confidere House, Honors House and Global Justice House. Last year, sophomores rated their top picks online. Houses are meant to bring students together through common interests and goals, rather than majors.
“Our main objective is to develop a broad array of trips and activities that appeal to the majority of the sophomore class,” said Brandon Farmer, assistant director of Residence Life. “We have received a lot of positive feedback. We are really looking forward to seeing how Year2Malibu progresses.”
Sophomores enrolled in the Malibu Program are now given opportunities to travel with classmates to locations such as San Francisco and Catalina Island this semester.
The Year2Malibu trip to Catalina on Oct. 27 was seen as a success based on attendance — more than 130 students participated. Upon arriving, students were greeted by Farmer, Director of Residence Life Kerri Heath, Sophomore representatives, and Dean of Students Mark Davis.
Davis gave a short speech on avoiding the “sophomore slump.” Whether experiencing the sophomore slump or surge, Davis stressed that the sophomore class is “all in this together.”
The trip included breakfast, lunch and dinner free of charge. The day began with a scavenger hunt around the city of Avalon. Students were organized into random groups to allow new friendships to form. Later, students were given free time to explore the island on their own. They had the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities including a glass-bottom boat tour, snorkeling, kayaking and more.
While enjoying lunch at the historic Casino Ballroom, students heard a keynote presentation by Dr. Stella Erbes, professor of teacher education. She presented three phases of life that she believes ultimately shape who one becomes in life: childhood, college and beyond college. Students then participated in small group discussions at each respective table. Faculty and staff members moderated the discussions.
“I spent so much of my life not being who I was designed to be … and I don’t want that for you,” Erbes said.
As a mode of publicity for the trip, students and faculty members in attendance were encouraged to use the hashtag #Y2Catalina to document their day on the island. Attendees uploaded photos and tweeted about memorable moments on the trip. Social media such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram helped HRL gain a comprehensive view of the students’ experiences.
In response to Jolivet’s memo last year, HRL incorporated travel into the program to “ensure that educational field trips to Catalina Island and San Francisco meaningfully engage students in purposeful learning.”
In addition to the Los Angeles Bucket List trips, Malibu sophomores can participate in other on-campus events that HRL has planned for students such as a lock-in in the Caf and a formal dance exclusive to this year’s sophomore class.
