New Transfer Student Mentorship Program Helps Recent Transfers Adjust to Life at Arcadia

For the first time, transfer students who are new to Arcadia this semester have peer mentors to guide them, just like their first-year peers.

The new Transfer Student Mentor Program pairs each newly arriving transfer student with a mentor who is also a transfer student. Matches are made based on common interests and experiences, as well as what the mentor is involved with on campus. Mentors host one-on-one meetings with their transfer student mentees, whether that be a quick coffee break, lunch, or any other way to stay connected. Mentors and mentees are also encouraged to attend campus events together.

Transfer students are automatically enrolled in this program upon transferring to Arcadia University. Near the start of the semester, mentors reached out to introduce themselves and start forming connections with their mentees before they arrived on campus for the fall semester.

Development of the Transfer Student Mentor program was led by Student Success Coordinator Maria DeAngelis, Associate Dean of Student Success Bre Donnelly, and Director of Global Engagement Scott Terry, with support from Assistant Director of Transfer Admissions Darien Ryan and Registrar Assistant Helena Market.

Below is a brief Q&A with DeAngelis and Donnelly, giving an overview of the program and all it has to offer.

Q: How was this program created?

A: A lot of attention is paid to first-year students and how they transition into the university. We have some really successful examples to draw from there (especially the Peer Mentor program in their First-Year Seminar course). Transfer students didn't have that go-to person who could relate on the same level and we knew that some were struggling to translate their existing college experience into their Arcadia experience. Transfer student needs are often very distinct because transfers themselves come into the university with a wide variety of backgrounds. Considering all this, we developed a way for students who have already successfully navigated that transition (Transfer Mentors were transfer students themselves!) to support other transfer students.

Q: Why is it important for Arcadia to have a program like this?

A: Transfer students are often thrown into the mix with first-year students because they know "how to college" already. They don't always get the specific attention they need because it is often different from what a traditional first-year student needs. We see this begin at Fall Welcome Week with what can feel like "unnecessary engagement" but then taper off throughout the semester, which can feel like a lack of support. No two universities function in the same way, which is why Transfer Mentors are key in the transition for transfer students - They can relate to their experience, offer the appropriate guidance, and be their go-to person for not just campus-life advice, but also for accompanying them to on-campus events that they otherwise wouldn't attend without having a peer to go with.

Q: What do you hope transfer students get out of this program?

A: The hope is that transfer students feel like they have a support system beyond their academic advisor, that offers specific guidance along with a social space to connect with other transfer peers. Having another transfer student be their mentor will hopefully create a sense of belonging at Arcadia that may have otherwise taken much more time and energy. Just as first-year students have a Peer Mentor in their First-Year Seminar course, we want transfer students to have similar support offered to them as a bridge to help navigate the nuances of being a college transfer student.