OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
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The Beaver Connect program connects new-to-OSU students, peers, and faculty members in an effort to ease the student transition to college, facilitate faculty-student interaction, and build a network of support to help students succeed during their time at OSU.
Students are placed on teams of up to 4 new-to-OSU students, 1 peer mentor, and 1 faculty member for mentorship, guidance, and community building in their first year at OSU. Teams meet up to 5 times per term during the first year in Fall, Winter, and Spring terms. Teams discuss a variety of topics from how to be successful to applying for scholarships, finding research opportunities, and exploring career paths.
I would love to hear from you! Please email the Program Coordinator Caitlin McVay with questions or for more information on how to get involved with Beaver Connect.
A proud part of the Educational Opportunities Program (EOP), Beaver Connect prioritizes applications from both first-year & new transfer students who identify as:
"[This program helped me] to better appreciate what OSU offers and the opportunities available here, as a result of discussions with my peer and faculty mentors about their own college experiences. It helped me be even more sure that OSU is the right place for me." - 2018 Participant
“Loved every moment and they have helped me a ton!! I mean I couldn’t have been in such an amazing situation without their program and I am super thankful for how much resources and connections I have been able to make.” - 2022 Participant
Students who participate will be able to:
Beaver Connect grew out of a pilot program called the Faculty-Student Mentor Program (FSMP) that was launched in 2018 to meet a key recommendation of the Undergraduate Student Success Steering Committee: that OSU do a better job of supporting our students in their first year at OSU, whether they are first-year or transfer students. The program placed special focus on improving the student transition for students of color, first-generation, and students with high financial need through a central campus initiative and college, school, and department level initiatives. The pilot ran for two years and was part of a research study led by Dr. Gloria Crisp with the College of Education which examined the impact of the program on retention and graduation rates of students at OSU overall.
After the pilot showed measurable levels of success, the program was formally housed within the Educational Opportunities Program (EOP) in 2020. EOP has been serving students who have traditionally been denied equal access to higher education since formation in 1969 after a walkout organized by the Black Student Union paved the way for the creation of intentional diversity initiatives and better support for the educational success of students of color. Beaver Connect is proud to aid in this mission by providing mentorship to first-year and transfer undergraduate students from these populations nearly university-wide.
This year I enjoyed watching my mentees learn and grow as college students. They became more confident and comfortable at OSU and made social connections on campus. They also bonded with and uplifted each other as the year progressed. I am so proud of them.
Our research on the pilot program clearly showed the unique benefits of a co-leadership model composed of both faculty and upper-division peer mentors. New-to-OSU students are looking for connection and community from a variety of sources and we especially value the expertise and relevance this co-leadership model provides. Through this paid position, upper-division students can really make a difference for new-to-OSU students.
The expected commitment of up to 10 hours per term lasts for a full academic year (Fall-Spring). Peer Mentors will co-lead discussions with a faculty member and up to 4 new-to-OSU students. Teams typically meet every other week for 1 hour discussions on navigating the first year, exploring opportunities, and envisioning a path to success. Peer Mentors are recruited each Spring with information sessions and trainings offered throughout the following months. Selection is based on student sign up per college. Preference will be given to previous student participants in the program and those close to degree completion.
Access our Mentor Manual for helpful resources and support with your role!
As a result of participating in the Beaver Connect program, peer mentors will be able to…
Build stronger connections to faculty and peers at OSU
Increase leadership capacity and build skills in communication, mentorship, teamwork, and resiliency
Provide navigational support to new students at OSU
Support OSU’s strategic goals to increase retention and success of students
Current OSU students, typically 2nd year and higher undergraduates, seeking to...
This represents a great opportunity to establish a personal connection between faculty and first-year students, giving them listeners and confidence.
Beaver Connect grew out of the Faculty-Student Mentor Program pilot program that ran from 2018-2020, which involved faculty and leadership across nearly all colleges at OSU who provided navigational support, connection, and leadership capacity building to over 700 undergraduate students and peer mentors. The program contributes directly to OSU’s Strategic Plan 4.0 officially launched in 2019; namely to increase our retention and graduation of all students by focusing on the selected tactic to redesign and implement changes to support systems for students’ transition from admission to the end of the first year of enrollment.
Peer-reviewed literature indicates significant benefits to students who participate in faculty-student mentorship. While OSU undergraduate students view faculty very favorably, many reported feeling isolated from their professors on exit from the university. Since the introduction of the pilot program in 2018, our faculty have been working hard to change the perception and culture of OSU and positively affect retention and success rates for participants in the program.
Access our Mentor Manual for helpful resources and support with your role!
Faculty who participate in Beaver Connect will be matched with a peer mentor and together you will co-lead a team of 3 to 4 new-to-OSU students during their first year at OSU. The focus is on community building and support rather than providing advising or content-specific knowledge. As a result of participating in the Beaver Connect program, faculty mentors will be able to:
Build connections to faculty and students at OSU
Learn first-hand about the student transition experience
Collaborate with a peer mentor to provide mentorship to new students
Support OSU’s strategic goals to increase retention and success of students
Serving as a faculty mentor takes compassion, patience, and persistence. This program primarily serves both first-year and transfer undergraduate students who identify as first-generation, low income, and students of color. Faculty who share these identities are especially welcome. We also invite:
