The REACH Mentoring Program provides support and stability while addressing issues facing first and second-year underrepresented and first-generation students.
Difficulty in adjusting can very easily have a negative effect on a student's academic performance and social acclimation. The first semester is a critical one for students in transition. Most first-year students decide within the first six to eight weeks whether a college is a good fit for them and whether they intend to stay and complete the semester. Evidence from researchers in higher education suggests that peer support may be extremely important for the academic adjustment of college students.
The overall goal of the program is to retain targeted students by providing them with support and guidance from mentors who are able to offer support, insight, and positive reinforcement. The program's specific goals are to:
Through its second component, the REACH Tutorial Program, mentees, mentors, and sophomores receive peer or professional tutoring in courses for which they are under-prepared or in which they are experiencing academic difficulties. Student tutors are approved by the dean of academic advising.
The Sophomore Experience Program (SEP) is the third component of REACH Sophomores are usually faced with developmental and academic issues. The purpose of the SEP is to assist sophomore students in transitioning from their sophomore year to their junior year, essentially helping them avoid the "sophomore slump." The specific goals of the program are to:
If you're interested in participating in REACH or have questions, please contact Chris Kennerly at 740-427-5160 or kennerlyc@kenyon.edu. You may also contact student coordinators via the REACH email account, reach@kenyon.edu.