Ohio University

LINKS Pre-Matriculation Program begins Aug. 23

About 300 multicultural students expected to participate

Aug 13, 2012
By Lisa Kefalos

Nearly 300 first-year Ohio University multicultural students are expected to participate in the Office for Multicultural Student Access and Retention's (OMSAR) LINKS Pre-Matriculation program, Aug. 23-24.

LINKS is a peer-mentoring program for first-year multicultural students that builds a foundation of support, friendship and community at Ohio University. Students are assigned a peer mentor who is responsible for helping them make a successful academic and social transition to university life. In addition to peer-to-peer mentoring, participants are exposed to development workshops, advising support and tutorial services.

The two-day program embraces both students and parents to understand university resources, services and offices available on campus.

Cecil Walters, director of the Office for Multicultural Student Access and Retention, emphasized the value of the overall program experience.

"Students are given the opportunity to receive a comprehensive understanding of what it means to be a successful student at Ohio University," said Walters.

Apart from meeting peer mentors and developing relationships, students learn about involvement opportunities and begin to plan forward for the rest of the academic year.

The program kicks off Thursday, Aug. 23, at Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium.

Program highlights include:

• University Welcome – Campus representatives welcome participants on behalf of the OMSAR Office and the University.
  
  
• "Getting to Know You"—Students and peer advisors have the opportunity to meet for one-on-one sessions and icebreaker activities.
  
  
• OMSAR Scholarship & LINKS Meeting – OMSAR students will obtain detailed information about scholarship and LINKS program activities and requirements. A central focus is placed on understanding the relationship between successful student behaviors and attaining long and short-term goals.
  
  
• PA/Linkee Social -- Advisors and students will have dinner and participate in team activities and social challenge exercises.
  
  
• "College 101,"—Staff members from several University academic support areas will give an informational presentation about their office.
  
  
• Multicultural Support Services – A similar discussion as College 101, involving the Women's Center, Educational Abroad and many more areas will take place.
  
  
• "Sexual Responsibility P.O.W.E.R." – Staffers will discuss relationships and students will learn how to deal with problems in social or personal relationships, and the areas on campus that can offer help.
  
  
• "Will the Real Men and Women Please Stand Up"— This program separates the males and females for a more private extension of the Sexual Responsibility workshop. This is an open discussion about the social life on campus and what are the stumbling blocks and primary goals of males and females on campus.

"We are really looking forward to students becoming bobcats at Ohio University," said Walters. "Overall, we want incoming freshmen to flourish to the point where they demonstrate high academic ability, leadership and service on campus and in the local community."