As the SUNY Morrisville campus prepares for an exciting new academic year, peer mentors in its Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) have been immersed in a week of team-building exercises and strategic planning as they welcome one of the largest incoming EOP Summer Academy cohorts in the college’s history.
The 15 peer mentors, experienced students who serve as guides, motivators and role models, are engaged in intensive training sessions designed to strengthen collaboration and leadership. Activities include group challenges and scenario-based learning to prepare them for mentoring first-year students.
“This week is all about building a strong foundation for our peer mentors to help new students adjust socially and emotionally to college life,” said Kayle Light-Curtin, executive director of SUNY Morrisville’s Opportunity and Access Programs.
EOP helps incoming students from historically underserved backgrounds transition successfully into college. This year’s large class, more than 120, is due to increased funding from SUNY System and New York State and is also a testament to SUNY Morrisville’s commitment to access and student success.
The four-week intensive summer academy, “College Looks Good on You,” runs from July 11 through Aug. 9.
“We want each scholar to see themselves not only as college students but also as capable, confident scholars with the potential to thrive academically, socially and personally,” Light-Curtin said. “Through programming, mentorship and engaging academic experiences, we aim to foster a strong sense of belonging, purpose and academic identity from day one.”
Peer mentors play a vital role in the success of the summer program.
Tamiea Lee is among peer mentors creating a supportive, engaging and empowering environment for the summer scholars.
“The program was so good that I wanted to come back to be a mentor,” said Lee, who participated in the academy last summer.
The EOP program has helped the individual studies student from Brooklyn thrive.
“EOP is a sense of community and provides a sense of belonging,” Lee said. “It helps you with so many things academically and financially and gave me so much confidence.”
That same spirit of support and connection is what motivated Michael Roberts to become an EOP peer mentor for the first time. “This is a pretty great,” he said of the training. “It’s a great idea to integrate the new students.”
The weeklong training builds a foundation of leadership, communication and trust. “We focus a lot on team-building and communicating effectively throughout the training,” Light-Curtin said.
Michael Duignan, director of the college’s Advancing Success in Associate Pathways (ASAP) and Advancing Completion through Engagement (ACE) program, led several interactive activities designed to strengthen those very skills through teamwork and peer-led activities.
“Think of creative ways to find solutions, to communicate ideas and work as a team,” he advised the peer mentors, who were tasked with multiple exercises that challenged their way of thinking and communicating.
In addition to team-building activities, peer mentors are also participating in mandated training.
“It is a bridge from high school to college, getting them prepared and acclimated to a new environment,” said Ashlee Duncan, an EOP counselor. “It is more than classes. There are elements we help guide and support them with before the fall.”
“For nearly 60 years, EOP has created a path to upward mobility for students and their families — making college a reality to pursue their dream careers,” said SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. in a prepared statement. “This program, made possible thanks to the steadfast commitment of Governor Kathy Hochul and the State Legislature, supports thousands of SUNY students each year, and empowers them to unleash their full potential.”
