All around Chico State, there’s a rhythm of campus life, from the unzipping of backpacks to the tapping of keyboards and the soft flick of eraser dust off pages. Students settle into corners, tables and halls in search of focus. Across campus, students from various majors and extracurriculars move through their days in different ways. Still, they are united by something simpler: the pursuit of higher knowledge, or simply trying to pass a class.

As the semester continues after spring break, midterms and larger projects crowd students’ schedules, the pressure to stay on track becomes more real with only a couple of months left. 

For many, this includes attending professors’ office hours, independent and group study time, and, for Greek Life organizations, structured study hours to help balance between social and academic responsibilities.

For Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority Inc., that idea has become a campus-wide offering open to all students, regardless of affiliation, held every Thursday from 7-8 p.m. in Room 116 of the Performing Arts Center. 

“My chapter has been hosting study hours for years,” said Jenni Hernandez, Lambda Theta Alpha’s chapter president. “Since Lambda Theta Alpha was founded as an academic sorority, academic success has always been a priority for us.” 

The atmosphere inside Room 116 is intentionally calm, with soft music playing in the background to help improve focus, as students bring in their work and use the time to stay productive in a space where others are doing the same, Hernandez said.

While many Greek Life organizations have study hours embedded into their programs, Lambda Theta Alpha’s hours have grown into something bigger by welcoming all Chico students to work in a calm, focused space that values connection.

“It gives us the chance to meet and connect with other Chico State students, build relationships and create more of a sense of community on campus,” Hernandez said.

Lambda Theta Alpha is the first and largest Latina sorority in the nation, established in 1975 at Kean University. It later became part of Chico State’s multicultural Greek Life community on Oct. 31, 2020.

“Community, support and empowerment are really important to us,” Hernandez said. “Study hours reflect that by creating a space where students feel welcomed, encouraged and motivated to succeed together.” 

But not every student studies the same way and not every space feels the same. Across campus, different environments offer students different kinds of focus.

At the Meriam Library, the second and third floors are designated as quiet study areas, with the second floor also housing the Honors Lounge, where students in Chico’s Honors Program can study and access snacks and a free-to-use printer.

The fourth floor of Meriam Library is designed for group work, creating a space that’s louder than the rest of the floors but still focused on academics. The fourth floor has an open layout with big windows overlooking Chico’s structures and trees, while students study, offering a peaceful view for studying. 

“The environment you see others studying, and it motivates you to study,” said senior Oscar Barerra, studying on the fourth floor. 

The fourth floor features group study rooms with large tables and whiteboards. These rooms can be reserved online in 50-minute time slots, making them a convenient option for collaborative work. 

For students seeking a more social and flexible setting, the upper floors of the Bell Memorial Union offer a different pace. The top floor provides tables of all sizes for individual and group work. 

“I like to study here on the top floor of the BMU because they have high tables with comfortable chairs,” said Emi Holi, Chico State sophomore. 

Downstairs, BMU offers dining options like Marketplace Cafe, Common Grounds Coffee Shop and Urban Roots, which sell drinks and snacks for study fuel or simply to post an Instagram story of a fancy coffee drink with a laptop and notes.

The Hub is another popular space for students, used for everything from hanging out with friends to watching movies, playing video games and, of course, studying, with a printer available. Chico State has two Hubs, one in Éstom Jámani courtyard and the other in University Village.

The Behavioral and Social Sciences Building offers a more flexible, less formal study environment, where tables, chairs and booths are available on every open floor level. It is also Chico’s newest building and first energy-neutral building on campus, opened in 2024. The BSS is also home to Lovebird Coffee, a well-known spot, which often has a line, drawing students for caffeine-fueled study sessions or a break between classes.

Outdoor studying is also a seasonal option as the weather gets warmer, with students gathering by Bidwell Bowl or on Trinity Lawn, bringing books and blankets as they work alongside friends.

Éstom Jámani Dining Center and Wildcat Den are also common choices for grabbing a bite and working on a laptop, though they tend to be faster-paced and louder environments. 

These study spaces reflect a larger study culture at Chico, one that connects independence with community, all in the pursuit of higher education. Some students wear noise-canceling headphones and focus on individual work, while others seek out communal spaces, finding that simply being around others makes it easier to focus.

Lambda Theta Alpha’s study hours sit right in the middle of this balance, offering a consistent structure alongside a sense of community. 

“We come together to focus on our goals, support one another and stay accountable,” Hernandez said — a reminder that productivity doesn’t have to be a solo experience. As all Chico State students live by the school’s motto. 

Today Decides Tomorrow.

Lucy Bakowski can be reached at [email protected]