A few months after I began my position, I planned an early-arrival program for first generation students and students of color.

““A place of love and fellowship where you get to experience the comfort of a community that wants you and cares about your academic achievement—that is what it means to me.” — Student Participant

“From a staff perspective, this year’s program was one of the best iterations that I have seen.” – University Staff

Here’s what I did to plan the program:

• Budgeting and Purchases:
  • Followed program budget of $65,170. Allocated expenses for staffing and additional program requirements.

• Research, Literature Review, Presentations
  • Reviewed early arrival program literature to determine common themes and best practices in early arrival programs.
  • Presented findings to the University community and sought feedback to share the literature review and proposed program goals.
  • Wrote agreement and release forms for participants.

• Program Goals and Evaluation
  • Designed program goals aligned with the literature review.
  • Designed participant pre- and post-evaluations: 25-question Likert-scale survey aligned with program goals and literature
  • Designed two mentor evaluations and “campus partner” feedback forms.

• Collaboration
  • Communicated with 31+ internal stakeholders and external stakeholders, including:
  • 9 on-campus departments to design workshops aligned with program goals
  • On-campus housing to ensure participants had a place to live during the program.
  • External and internal catering.
  • Planned and created appreciation gifts for more than 40 University collaborators
    

• Hiring
  • Wrote mentor job expectations document.
  • Conducted 17 student interviews.
  • Created additional student leadership positions (team leaders).

• Curriculum Design
  • Designed mentor professional development including sessions on civil rights, accessibility, bias, team building, mental health first aid, and power dynamics.
  • Designed 5 days worth of mentor-mentee lesson plans.

• Scheduling
  • Designed five-day program schedule for student participants.
  • Created detailed instructions for mentors.
  • Scouted for program locations including workshop room, game room, outdoor experience field, and student recreation field.

• Recruitment
  • Designed Program Flyer and Wrote Invitation Letter.
  • Recruited Student Participants through physical mail, email, phone calls and collaboration with on-campus student-serving departments