The College of Nursing and Health Sciences’ approach to students’ first-year experience is integrated and thoughtful; it includes a required first-year course, a team of four master’s-prepared professional advisors, and a group of enthusiastic and dedicated peer mentors.

This fall CNHS advisors conducted more than 700 one-on-one appointments with first-year students. The required first-year seminar NH 50: Applications to Health connected students to one another and their advisors and peer mentors while also providing a weekly one-hour, peer-led study session for the most challenging first-year courses.

By the end of the semester, 86% of students had attended six or more study group meetings. These meetings not only helped students prepare for exams, they also encouraged students to measure their own learning, complete class work, and meet new people.

One student said, “I find the study groups to be very helpful [because they] help me to know what I need to study and what I already understand.” Another said, “my classmates and I are confused about the same things so it's reassuring to know they are lost too and we can work together to fix that.” Peer mentors help to connect and support the first-year class by meeting with the students in NH 50, wishing them luck on exams, and giving advice on good study habits.

Over the course of the fall 2016 semester, the 36 "Links" mentors made over 3500 points of contact with first-year students through emails, texts, Facebook messages and more. Of the Links, the first-year students said: “I feel any time I have a question or need someone to lean on, she’s there,” and “She made us dinner and gives great advice. She really cares about us.”

In addition to providing community-building interaction with their peers, NH 50 challenges students to reflect on their identities as future health care team members, and to consider the importance of family-centered care, through inter-professional case studies.

CNHS has high expectations for our students; with the help of the advisors, an integrated first-year seminar, and a dedicated team of peer mentors, students experience a supportive and welcoming learning environment that can help them succeed.