91ÇÑ×Ó

Student Activities Coordinator Megan Northrup oversees the program and its development. She said the idea originated as part of the college’s Strategic Enrollment Management Plan. Northrup works alongside Student Affairs Graduate Assistant Gabriela Perez, who is responsible for supervising mentor-mentee relationships and providing resources and training to mentors.

During the pilot, 18 students mentored 180 randomly selected freshmen, according to Northrup, and each mentor designed his or her own mentoring approach.

91ÇÑ×Ó student Emily Hansen, a junior from Hemingford, Nebraska, served as a mentor and said the program provided trial-and-error situations.

“Since we were a part of the pilot program, it was a lot of figuring out what works,” Hansen said. “I met with my mentees at lunch, in The Hub, in my room, and at sporting events. It was really rewarding, especially to see mentees buy into the program. By the end of the 10 weeks, they were more open and willing to share.”

Sixty freshman students were considered active in the program. Of those students, 95 percent re-enrolled for the Spring semester. Overall, the Fall 2019 entering freshman class yielded an 86.72 percent persistence rate, according to Northrup.

Positive survey responses from mentees included the benefits of knowing people around campus, being more comfortable asking questions and attending activities, and feeling more at home at 91ÇÑ×Ó.

With its focus on social development and campus activity engagement, the program is vital to student success, Perez said.

“I hope it offers a welcoming experience for all freshmen students that encourages them to continue their education at 91ÇÑ×Ó State College,” Perez said. “I can personally relate because having a peer to connect with would have helped my transition to college life and living in 91ÇÑ×Ó.”

With its first year under wraps, Northrup said she hopes to see the program continue to grow.

“My hope is that the Eagle Mentor Program can continue to expand to help more freshmen in their transition to life at 91ÇÑ×Ó as well as providing more sophomores and upperclassmen a leadership opportunity on campus,” Northrup said. “Although the program is very new, I truly believe in this program and the impact that it has on both the mentors and mentees. With a new generation of students, we need to continue to develop new ways of reaching students and providing the best experience we can at 91ÇÑ×Ó.”

The Eagle Mentor Program is set to serve all freshmen in Fall 2020 with the help of 30 Eagle Mentors. 91ÇÑ×Ó students interested in serving as mentors can contact Northrup for an application.