Student Support Services for First-Generation freshmen

After you are accepted into the SSS program and arrive on the Flagstaff campus in August, you will meet with a staff member for a short “INTAKE” appointment in order to sign up for your Peer Mentor-led group gatherings and individual meetings. These appointments are offered during Welcome Week and the first two weeks of classes.

Meet your Peer Mentor and your small group cohort at our Kick-Off Orientation. Held in early September, all freshmen admitted to the program are required to attend our first big event. Experience team activities, a resource scavenger hunt, raffle prizes, and more!

As the semester winds to a close, we host an End of Semester or End of the Year Celebration to honor your accomplishments and students who are graduating from the program (yes, some students participate for all four years). Join us for food and celebration!

As an SSS student, a peer mentor will work with you throughout your first year at Northern Arizona University. Peer Mentors are upper-class undergraduate students who are familiar with the academic and social rigors of college life. They are knowledgeable about resources on campus and are skilled in navigating the campus climate.

Peer Mentors provide support in the areas of:

• Transitioning to college
• Class selection, career and academic opportunities
• Personal guidance

You will meet with your Peer Mentor once every other week for 50 minutes.

SSS students benefit from peer-led workshops on a variety of topics:

• time management
• study skills
• paying for college
• budgeting
• getting involved on campus
• campus resources
• resume workshop
• and much more!!

Your Peer Mentor will lead a group of students once every other week for an hour in workshop topics and social events.  The group gatherings focus largely on self-development and group interaction. Getting together with the same small group creates a small community within the program.

We call it “MID-SEMESTER MADNESS” and “END OF SEMESTER REVIEW.” You will meet at least twice with a professional staff member, who is well versed in the challenges that first-year SSS students face. You’ll get a chance to review mid-term grades, address any financial issues, and strategize on how to have a successful first year at NAU.

Join your small group cohort, or other SSS participants, for two activities each semester. These opportunities help you get connected to the university by cheering on the football team together or attending a campus speaker. Cultural events include attending plays, films, or going on local excursions. Connecting to Flagstaff and NAU enriches your college experience.