Axe ’Em, Jacks!
The Axcel Peer-to-Peer Mentoring program is a great opportunity for first-year students to meet other incoming students as well as upperclassmen who serve as peer mentors. Axcel strives to connect first-year students with all the resources and assistance they need to be successful at SFA.
Purpose
Provided by SFA’s Student Access and Development Services, the Axcel Peer-to-Peer Mentoring program supports first-year and transfer students in their transition to student life at SFA.
The program emphasizes the importance of academic excellence, leadership and personal growth. It matches students (mentees) with current student leaders who exhibit a healthy balance between academics and involvement. In addition, each mentee is paired with a successful SFA alum or faculty or staff member who wishes to support the mentee as well.
Mission
Our overall mission is to help first-year students acclimate to their new community and university. Their new SFA environment can be confusing. They do not know where their classes are, how to navigate the campus, what questions to ask or how to get involved. Therefore, our mission is to:
- support students in increasing independent living skills
- provide a safe and consistent relationship between students, faculty and staff
- Educate first-year students on the stressors of college
- develop leadership skills while promoting academic excellence
- increase retention rates among first-year students
- and provide continual and relevant training to equip mentors with resources to effectively assist their mentees.
By participating in Axcel, students will be able to:
- demonstrate accountability for their learning experience and academic success
- identify key university resources that can assist them in their journey to graduation
- create relationships with a network of peers, faculty and staff on campus
- effectively practice developmental skills, such as time management, financial literacy and self-careaccess personal and professional enrichment opportunities
- and attend programs during which mentors and mentees actively interact and participate.
Roles
Peer Mentor — A student who offers friendship, help and advice to a mentee. Mentors have knowledge and experiences in specific areas that mentees can use to guide them. Mentors listen, answer questions and spend time with their mentees to help them acclimate to their new surroundings more easily.
Faculty/Staff Mentor — An SFA professional who offers guidance and support to a mentee. As SFA employees, faculty and staff mentors can introduce their mentees to various on- and off-campus resources, connect them with other professionals, create opportunities for them, and serve as a point of reference. This type of mentorship helps mentees feel more comfortable reaching out to other SFA professors and administrators.
Mentee — A first-year or transfer student looking for friendship and guidance from current Lumberjacks and SFA professionals to achieve a healthy academic and involvement balance. Mentees ask questions, listen, accept good advice and spend time with their mentors to help them adjust to Lumberjack Life.
