With Syracuse Welcome complete and a new academic year underway, incoming students are still in the midst of navigating many new experiences. From college courses, campus interactions, living independently and more, students may be experiencing overwhelm and uncertainty.
As a transfer student and Orange Success Mentoring Program mentor, Aaron Hall ’23 has personal experience navigating the uncertainty of joining the campus community as an incoming student. “I felt being a transfer student disadvantaged me. My first semester on campus I had [considerable] trouble finding friends and connections.”
Customizable peer mentor and mentee relationships and evolving student experiences, the Orange Success Mentoring Program cultivates connections that as a result, ignite each students’ trajectory of success at Syracuse University and beyond. Rooted in over 30 years of student experience research, the program strengthens key student experience milestones including but not limited to the following.
Wanting to help fellow students through what can be a difficult time, the Orange Success Mentoring Program piqued Hall’s interest, and he persevered through uncertainty once more. “I was a little nervous because I was afraid that no mentee would match up with me because of my personality.”
Soon after completing the mentor registration, Hall was matched with mentees. “We talked a lot about academics, extracurriculars and financial aid. I gave advice and sent resources.” Overarchingly, during the spring 2019 pilot Hall participated in, over 200 students were matched with a mentor. Mentee feedback shared a 7% increase in the sense of belonging.
Hall’s dedication to mentees was further celebrated and honored with an invitation to serve within a nationwide Ambassador Program hosted by Mentor Collective, the foundational platform of the Orange Success Mentoring Program.
“You don’t have to be perfect or experienced to be a mentor,” shares Hall, who encourages student mentor and mentee participation. “If you are unsure about anything, that is probably a reason why you should participate in this program. Also, it is free and self-paced (you do not have to meet weekly).”
Mentee applications are due Tuesday, Sept. 6, and are open to incoming first-year, first-year transfer, and self-identified first-generation students on a first-come, first-serve basis. Returning students are invited to complete the Mentor Application Form.
For more information or questions, please visit the Orange Success Mentoring webpage, email mentoring@syr.edu or call Student Outreach and Retention at 315.443.2616.
