Sessions /
A peer support program for incoming students #211

The integration of new students into college programs can be a challenge for both the staff and the new students themselves. The start of college can be an anxiety filled time and the provision of support is not only appreciated by the new students, but also helps them gain a sense of belonging, form social networks, and increase confidence. The institution itself benefits from greater student satisfaction and improved student retention. This presentation will look at the evolution of a peer support program at a small university’s English department during its orientation period. The Peer Support Team (PST) involved twenty 2nd year students assisting forty-one incoming students in their transition from high school to university. First, an overview of the current program and how it was developed over several years will be presented. This will be followed by an examination of the results of post-participation questionnaires on both student cohorts. The mixed method research provided positive feedback on the program and its implementation, as well as identifying points for improvement. Time will be allotted to an exchange of ideas and strategies used to integrate incoming students into the university system, as well as to increase student involvement within the given department and the institution. Participants should leave the session with a renewed sense of the importance of how they integrate incoming students into the university environment.