UNC Greensboro has taken the first steps in its reaccreditation process, and it’s hard at work implementing the Spartans Thrive campaign, a Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) dedicated to improving all dimensions of wellness in students, faculty, and staff, and promoting a greater sense of belonging. Regina McCoy, Associate Vice Provost for Retention and Student Success, shares information on the new peer mentoring program:
At the heart of every thriving educational institution is a sense of community, a feeling of belonging that transforms a university from just a place of learning into a home. It is this sense of belonging that, especially for first-time college students, marks the difference between merely surviving and truly thriving in the university environment. Here at UNCG, we understand this, and it’s why we’re thrilled to introduce the Spartans’ First Mentoring Program, a key component of our Quality Enhancement Program (QEP), dedicated to fostering belonging, resilience, and success among our students.
The transition into college life, while exciting, is often fraught with challenges that can feel overwhelming to a first-year student. According to our 2019 UNCG iBelong Survey, the sense of belonging among our students stands at 71%, below the national average. This feeling of detachment was only exacerbated by the pandemic, and our latest surveys show alarming trends in mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and loneliness, which significantly impair academic performance and personal well-being.
It is against this backdrop that the Spartans’ First Mentoring Program, a key component of our Quality Enhancement Program (QEP), becomes not just beneficial but essential. By pairing incoming students with empathetic and experienced peer mentors, we’re not just offering our students a guide through the academic maze, but we’re giving them a friend, a confidante, and a reliable support system.
What makes Spartans’ First Mentoring Program unique and particularly effective is the careful matching process. Students aren’t just thrown into random pairings; mentors and mentees are matched based on shared interests, majors, and life experiences. This personalized approach fosters genuine connections, ensuring that each first-year student receives guidance that resonates with their individual circumstances, aspirations, and challenges.
But for this program to reach its full potential, we need more than just structured plans; we need the wholehearted engagement of the UNCG community. We need our faculty, staff, and students to become active participants and proponents. Whether it’s by becoming a mentor, recommending the program to students, or integrating discussions about it into classroom and campus activities, every action can make a profound difference.
Personally, as a course instructor and now administrative lead for the Division of Student Success, I’ve witnessed first-hand the transformative impact that peer mentoring can have. It’s not just about academic guidance; it’s about building confidence, understanding college dynamics, and learning resilience and resourcefulness from peers who have successfully navigated similar paths.
The success of our existing Transfer2Transfer program, in partnership with Mentor Collective, stands testament to the efficacy of mentorship in enhancing students’ sense of belonging, academic engagement, and overall well-being. With Spartans’ First, we aim to replicate and amplify these successes by reaching over 50% of our incoming FTIC students, fostering lasting connections, and boosting retention rates.
Given the flexible nature of the program, participation doesn’t place an undue burden on our students’ schedules. Regular communication, whether in person, by text, phone, or video, ensures ongoing support without overwhelming commitment. This flexibility is key in making the program accessible and enjoyable for all participants.
Our university has set a bold goal for an 85% first-to-second-year retention rate, a goal we believe is within our reach with the full deployment and embracement of this program. More than just numbers, though, our aim is to see our students evolve into confident, connected, and proactive members of the Spartan family.
We invite every member of the UNCG community to join us in this transformative initiative. Let’s take a proactive step in shaping not just the academic journey of our students, but their personal development and well-being. Together, let’s solidify UNCG’s reputation as a nurturing ground for scholars, leaders, and innovators.
Because when Spartans support each other, we don’t just succeed individually—we thrive collectively.
More information on the Well-Being competency can be found on Spartan Connect. Students can find events and programs that link to the Spartan Experience to build their co-curricular transcript by tracking skill development across the competencies.
