Ohio University

LINKS program teaches new diverse students how to be successful

Aug 24, 2012
By George Mauzy; photos by Elizabeth Held

First-year Ohio University multicultural scholarship students participated in the Office for Multicultural Student Access and Retention (OMSAR) LINKS Pre-Matriculation program, Aug. 23-24.

LINKS is a peer mentoring program for diverse students that attracts and retains talented and capable students in an effort to maximize their academic, leadership and service potential. Each student is assigned a peer mentor who is responsible for helping them make a successful academic and social transition to college.

The two-day program began on Thursday with an afternoon reception and welcome in Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium. Executive Vice President and Provost Pam Benoit, interim Vice President for Student Affairs Ryan Lombardi, interim Dean of Students Jenny Hall-Jones and Associate Provost for Undergraduate Studies and Dean of the University College David Descutner were among the speakers who welcomed the students and their parents to campus.

Among the many topics discussed during the two-days were:

• demystifying stereotypes
• sexual responsibility
• sexual violence survivor advocacy
• overcoming academic challenges
• keys to college success
• networking and branding

 
After participating in small group exercises with their peer advisors on Thursday afternoon, the first-year students enjoyed a social event later that evening. On Friday, the students participated in information sessions titled College 101: Keys to Academic Success, Multicultural Support Services, Sexual Responsibility, and Will the Real Men and Women Please Stand Up.