College Hour meets Wednesday and Friday at 10 AM and Thursday at 1 PM.
College Hour is comprised of three different gatherings where the FPU community is encouraged to learn, celebrate, worship, and grow together. Chapel includes elements of a worship service, including music, Bible-centered teaching, and stories of transformation. Connect invites experts to address topics important to the lives of students in ways that broaden perspectives and build community. Capax Dei (Capacity for God) provides a contemplative space for students to interact with God through guided prayers, reflection, and common liturgies. College Hour also consists of Affinity Groups that unite students around a shared identity based on culture, gender, and ethnicity.
Beginning with the Freshman class in the Fall of 2024, all undergraduate students are required to attend 16 College Hour gatherings per semester. Students must download the Involve app and sign in with their FPU student email address to be added to the Fresno Pacific site. Please reference the College Hour FAQs below for additional information.
Current College Hour Schedule
| Chapel Dates | Speaker |
|---|---|
| 8/21/24 | Brian Davis | Campus Chaplain |
| 8/28/24 | Fall Convocation |
| 9/4/24 | Geraud Brumfield | Coalition for Christian Outreach (CCO) |
| 9/11/24 | Edgar Manriquez, Ph.D. | Social Work Faculty |
| 9/18/24 | Beth Eckloff-Paz | PreachHER Academy |
| 9/25/24 | Jessica Jackson | On-Ramps Covenant Church |
| 10/2/24 | Believer’s Church Lectureship with Pastor DJ Criner |
| 10/9/24 | Student Stories |
| 10/16/24 | No Chapel – Mid-term Break |
| 10/23/24 | Emma Ceja | Northpointe Community Church |
| 11/6/24 | Nick Chandler |
| 11/13/24 | Liz Garvin | VP of Advancement |
| 11/20/24 | Speaker TBD |
| 11/27/24 | No Chapel – Thanksgiving Break |
| 12/4/24 | Carols at the Cross |
| Connect Dates | Topic |
|---|---|
| 8/22/24 | Planning Party | Academic Success Center |
| 8/29/24 | “What’s Good in the Neighborhood?” | Every Neighborhood Partnership |
| 9/5/24 | Navigating College Life with Family & Friends | Pacific Counseling Center |
| 9/12/24 | Side Hustles: Leverage Your Skills for Success | Office of Spiritual Formation & Guest |
| 9/19/24 | Fiesta de Folklo rico | Office of Spiritual Formation |
| 9/26/24 | Rest for Success | Pacific Counseling Center |
| 10/3/24 | Believer’s Church Lectureship with Pastor DJ Criner |
| 10/10/24 | Love, Respect & Safety: DV Awareness | Marjaree Mason Center |
| 10/17/24 | Mid-term Break – No Connect Gathering |
| 10/24/23 | Redefining Success | Academic Success Center |
| 10/31/24 | Empower Your Vote | Donald Norman, President’s Chief of Staff |
| 11/7/24 | First Generation Alumni Panel | Intercultural Learning Center |
| 11/14/24 | “Ask Me Anything!” with The Johnstons | Office of Spiritual Formation |
| 11/21/24 | Balancing Act: Navigating Stress | Pacific Counseling Center |
| 11/28/24 | No Connect – Thanksgiving Break |
| 12/5/24 | “All Things New”: Art Competition | Art, Design & Creative Innovation |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the College Hour requirement?
All full-time, traditional undergraduate students are required to attend 16 College Hour gatherings per semester. You can attend Chapel, Connect, Capax Dei or an affinity group to receive credit.
Q. Where do College Hour gatherings take place?
All College Hour gatherings will be held in the Warkentine Culture and Arts Center. Affinity groups are held in various locations and at various times throughout the semester.
Q. I’m not a Christian. Do I still have to go to College Hour?
We recognize FPU is comprised of diverse faith backgrounds, and we continually strive to be a place of belonging for all. Inclusion is a core component of College Hour gatherings and programming. While some College Hour gatherings are more explicitly connected to the Christian faith (Chapel and elements of Capax Dei), others are focused primarily on general student well-being and community building (Connect and Affinity Groups).
Q. What happens if I do not attend the required number of College Hour gatherings?
College Hour is an enrollment requirement at FPU. Therefore, students who do not meet the minimum requirement of attending 16 gatherings will not be able to enroll in classes the following semester.
Q. If a student does not fulfill the requirement, is there an appeal process?
Yes. All appeals will be handled by the Vice President of Student Development and/or their designee.
Q. Are there waivers for the College Hour requirement?
Yes. Full or partial waivers for College Hour are available for students who present valid extenuating circumstances. Waivers must be submitted by the end of week 4. Additional information on accessing the waiver will be available prior to the start of the 2024 Fall semester.
Q. Who leads College Hour programming?
College Hour is a co-curricular learning program under the Student Life division at FPU and led primarily by the Office of Spiritual Formation (OSF) in collaboration with the Academic Success Center (ASC), the Intercultural Learning Center (ILC), the Pacific Counseling Center (PCC), Faculty, and others.
Q. How do I track College Hour attendance?
Students will be able to track their attendance on the Involve app that is also used to track student participation and engagement at other FPU events. Students must download the app, sign in with their FPU student email address and select Fresno Pacific as their designated university.
Q. What if I don’t arrive on time or must leave early?
Students have a 15-minute grace period to scan into College Hour gatherings—10 minutes prior to the gathering start time and five minutes after the gathering has begun. Scanning will not be available after this time and students will not be able to get credit for the College Hour event.