SoLVE Program for La Verne Sophomores Set to Shape Futures

Leo Barrera spends much of his time assisting University of La Verne students with psychological, physical or learning disabilities in his role as Disabled Student Services Coordinator. But a new opportunity came up last year that has since launched him into the world of teaching, and the subject is crucial.

Working with Dr. Kat Weaver, Director of the La Verne Experience, Barrera helped develop a new program for La Verne sophomores called SoLVE or Sophomore Orientation to the La Verne Experience. It is similar to the First-year La Verne Experience, a series of courses that increase student success in and out of the classroom.

“It’s supposed to all tie together, so when students graduate they have all the core values and what they should be getting from a small liberal arts university like La Verne,” Barrera said.

Like FLEX, SoLVE immerses students in the University’s four core values, but the program also includes additional components that address career planning and self-reflection. All sophomores will be required to enroll in SoLVE as part of the University’s new General Education that starts in the fall.

When the program was rolled out as an elective last semester, numerous faculty and staff members served as guest speakers, such as University Chaplain Zandra Wagoner, who taught students about interfaith understanding and self-reflection – known in the program as “self-authored world view.” Dr. Sammy Elzarka, Director of the Center of Faculty Excellence, developed lessons in this section, Weaver said.

In the career aspect of SoLVE, Mindy Baggish, Assistant Dean of Student Career Support and Employer Relations, and Kevin Marshall, College of Law professor, helped students make long-term plans, even projecting as far as 20 years into the future.

“It’s looking at a broad scope of planning for their future of what it really would look like as far as their pay, as far as their titles, experience needed, their strengths and how that’s going to play into their current major and in future jobs,” Barrera said.

Ruby Montano-Cordova, Associate Dean of Student Affairs, worked with the team to develop career lessons.

Chief Diversity and Inclusivity Officer Joy Lei explored issues of diversity and inclusivity with students, showing them videos and discussing with them inequality and privilege as it relates to race, gender and sexuality. Students toured the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles to broaden their perspectives in this area.

And Marisol Morales, Director of Civic and Community Engagement, exposed students to opportunities to make a difference in their communities through the community engagement portion of the program.

“SoLVE is a far-reaching program that not only encompasses La Verne’s core values and provides the skills needed to succeed in a liberal arts college, but it also encourages students to begin defining their role in solving local, national and global problems,” said Dr. Kat Weaver, Director of the La Verne Experience.

The handful of students participating in the rollout of the program provided an abundance of positive feedback, Barrera said. One said SoLVE helped him “learn how to learn.”

Barrera says he enjoys helping shape a student’s future, knowing that the influence he and his guest speakers provide may help students 10 to 15 years down the line.

“I’m excited. I’m looking forward to the fall,” Barrera said.