Student Transitions and Persistence Unit

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First-Year Experience Mentorship Programme

Every first-year student is introduced to the First-Year Experience Mentorship Programme and assigned a mentor. This year-long peer-to-peer support journey is designed to develop a sense of community to ensure that first-year students feel a sense of belonging and connectedness with the university community.

A mentor is a senior student with extensive institutional knowledge and experience of student and academic life within the university. 

The objectives of the Mentorship Programme is to take first-year students on a journey of discovery, facilitated through:

  • Creating safe spaces for first-years to build a peer support network;
  • Connecting first-year students to key support structures;
  • Creating a proactive, shared, goal-orientated and caring relationship to ensure the student success of first-year students;
  • Ensuring that first-year students feel like partners in their learning journey.

2024 Mentor Programme

Mentor inductions and training: growing individuals, building connections

The 2024 mentorship programme has established a strong foundation for mentor-mentee relationships, equipped mentors with essential skills, and provided ongoing support and development opportunities.

The 2024 programme began early in the year with a two-day induction for new mentors, covering logistics, communication protocols, mentorship platforms, programme structure, required submissions, co-curricular transcripts, student support services, and faculty advisors. Mentors also attended faculty-specific induction sessions.

Mentorship training is crucial for the Gateway to Success and First-Year Experience programmes, helping first-year students transition successfully from high school to university.

In February (10-24 February), mentors received training on topics such as group dynamics, engagement, power dynamics, accountability, support services, training skills, and programme logistics. The overall aim of the training was to develop the mentor’s abilities to establish rapport with other mentors and mentees, encourage mentors to optimize their potential, develop their skills, and improve their mentoring performance.  

Throughout the year, as part of mentors continued professional development, workshops are hosted covering topics such as GBV training, challenges and learning, and leadership and skills development.

Connecting mentees with mentors

On the 5th February 2024 (For Health Sciences) and 9th February (for other faculties) the Mentor-mentee connect session took place. The session was aimed at connecting mentees with mentors who are registered within the same or similar disciplines. Mentors were positioned at their allocated Lab benches waiting to connect with their mentee groups.

Opportunities to take part in Wits events

The first of many Wits events that mentors were invited to was the FYE Varsity Rugby Cup Game. See the shorts here.

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