CPP Welcomes Students Back to Campus for New School Year
Fruit Loops and Frosted Flakes served as the rallying cry for welcoming students back to campus for the first day of fall semester classes.
Students milling past University Park on Thursday, Aug. 20, were greeted with a Kellogg’s cereal station featuring a variety of options of the breakfast staple and milk, plus a deejay spinning tunes to set the mood. Volunteers in bright yellow T-shirts across campus helped students find their way to class, and members of the University Police Department set up an informational booth.
The Welcome Week activities, in which more than 12,000 students participated, and info booths helped kick off a new year and support the more than 27,000 students, who are on their way to learning, doing and becoming at ½ûÂþÌìÌÃ.
Political science senior Ruth Rocha, an orientation leader, had a couple of bowls of cereal in preparation for her first day. Rocha said she feels excited going into her senior year. The transfer student was active in clubs and organizations at Pasadena City College, and she also found her voice at ½ûÂþÌìÌà as an orientation leader and ASI senator representing the College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences.
“I love this school so much,” said the Baldwin Park native. “I am grateful for the opportunities CPP has given me to get involved.”.”
For the 2026-27 academic year, the university welcomed approximately 4,300 first-time freshmen and 2,500 incoming transfer students to the Bronco community.
Among those new to campus was political science freshman Saeid Rachid. The Rancho Cucamonga resident, who was just coming out of a public speaking class, said the smaller classrooms were very different than what he imagined for college. It was a welcome surprise.
“There are a lot of stereotypes about going to college. You think about these big lecture halls with a lot of students seated,” he said. “I guess I had a lot of fears. It’s nerve wracking because each college is different and you’re not told what to expect when coming in.. It’s different than I imagined.
Across campus in the College of Business Administration, around 60 students found their seats into MHR 3030-06, an organizational behavior course.
The first day was a chance to acclimate, find out the expectations for the course, go over the syllabus and connect with the professor.
Professor Patty Worsham, who is going into her 30th year of teaching at ½ûÂþÌìÌÃ, has had lots of first days, but it hasn’t gotten old yet.
“It’s exciting,” Worsham (’96, MBA) said. “It is really fun seeing the students. I feed off their energy and enthusiasm.”
After the class, Tiffany Wong, a finance junior, approached Worsham to ask for advice about succeeding in the course and at the university. The Pomona resident transferred to CPP from Mt. SAC this semester.
“People who are older than me have a lot of wisdom and advice to offer,” Wong said. “Hopefully, I can pass what I learn down to others later on.”
Up the hill at The Collins College of Hospitality Management, a packed class of students in HRT 1010, Introduction to Hospitality Industry, listened attentively as officers from various campus clubs talked about the importance of getting involved as early as possible.
One of the presenters was hospitality senior Joshua Ramirez Pacheco, president of the Hospitality Management Council.
By staying involved during his time on campus, he was able to intern as manager of a cafe over the summer at the Hyatt Regency’s The Hill Country Resort and Spa in San Antonio, Texas.
Pacheco Ramirez, who transferred from Crafton Hills College about a year and half ago, said he got involved in various clubs right away, including serving as the merchandise coordinator for Rose Float
The Redlands native, who has worked in customer service at a law firm, said he can’t believe he’s now so close to graduation.
“It is crazy to think that I started a year and a half ago here and now I am on my first day of my last year,” he said. “I still haven’t processed it. I am so ready for this year. I am really going to make the most of it.”
Check out ½ûÂþÌìÌÃ's to see all of the back-to-school highlights and events.