With admission offers accepted and deposits paid, incoming first-year students often question their next steps when preparing for college. With so many questions, it can be difficult to figure out where to go for answers. To support the transition of our first-year students, Student Advisement hires and trains senior students as First Year Connections [FYC] peer mentors. Each summer our peer mentors connect with each first-year student by phone and email.
During these phone calls, the FYC peers welcome new students to Sheridan, invite them to Orientation, provide answers to their questions and give them information regarding student supports on campus. The FYC program continues throughout a student’s first year with regular contact through email and in person, monthly newsletters, events and participating in the Peer Mentor Marketplace that includes collaboration from the entire Peer Mentor Program.
Attempting to ease first year jitters, the FYC phone campaign offers incoming first-year students a chance to engage with senior students, providing the opportunity to feel connected to the larger Sheridan community. Last year the FYC peers contacted over 5,000 new students by phone and we look forward to connecting with thousands more again this summer!
– The First Year Connections Team