Alec Massey
Features Editor
Student Life has decided to create a program for transfer students that provides them with a student mentor in their major to help them navigate campus. The “Major Mentor Program” is a new step for transfer student orientation brought about by the feedback from fall orientation. The orientation leaders reported to Dean of Students Emily Brit about the transfer students’ concerns about their transition into classes at Sewanee, and additional discussion developed about how to meet their needs. The idea for the program began to form from there.
Brit led a small focus group with current Sewanee students who are transfers, and they mentioned that they wanted more opportunities to learn from other students about their major and the intricacies of the campus not covered in orientation. She then introduced the idea of student mentors and was met with overwhelming support from students, faculty, and student success. “We want to make sure that all students feel welcomed and a part of our community,” Brit stressed, “…if we say we are really about EQB then this is a great way to demonstrate that.”
To put the plan into motion, she asked department chairs to nominate students and proposed the position to Arcadians as they are already well-versed in leading people around campus. “Students transfer for a wide variety of reasons: some it wasn’t a fit at their previous institution, some decide they want to be at a smaller place…and so they are really choosing us…that makes it special for us to really make sure that they feel part of our community as well,” Brit said. It seems that the new mentors share the same sentiment and want to contribute toward creating an accepting environment for the new transfer students since there ended up being more mentors than students.
Georgia Fleming (C ’24), an Economics major, was recommended by the department chair as a mentor because of her outstanding performance in the major and status as the only senior who has completed the major as they comped in their junior year. Fleming has served as an Econ tutor, research assistant, and teaching assistant. With that experience and tendency towards leadership, she readily accepted the new role. From her perspective, the program offers a relaxed environment for incoming transfer students to learn about their major at a new school and connect with one of their peers. The mentors reach out to their assigned student via email and offer their assistance. “They can get what they want out of it,” Fleming said. “It’s up to them to decide if they want to take our experiences into consideration.”
This additional resource for transfer students offers a casual way for them to get acquainted with the campus and an opportunity for their mentors to showcase their leadership skills and help someone in their field get the most out of their experience here.
Since the program is well received by both the new transfer students and their mentors, student life plans to continue this program into the coming years. The Major Mentor Program will hopefully continue to be an asset to the new transfer students and play a role in their creating their own space in Sewanee.