Sounds odd, doesn't it, but when I have visited classrooms and talked with students, I have found that students have some needs the Alumni Association can meet. So this service group was formed and is sponsoring some new student support programs. One of these is the Home away from Home program. We know that the vast majority of students who drop out of college do so because they do not feel connected to the college or the community. Also, for many students, being away from home for the first time and living in a new town can be a little scary.
Students can use the support of a family.
With the Home away from Home program, we're providing that extra measure of comfort for students and their parents. The Home away from Home program matches students with local families. After contacting families within the Chico area willing to open their homes and hearts to students, we match them as closely as possible with students interested in the program. Our fall barbecue is a great way for students and families to meet. The kind of relationship the student develops with the family depends on what each student wants or needs.