Early Bird

Did you graduate from a Colorado high school?

If so, Admissions invites you to consider becoming a mentor to an incoming Roadrunner.

By Lindsey Coulter

June 3, 2020

The Metropolitan State University of Denver Admissions team invites faculty, staff and alumni to welcome fledgling Roadrunners to the flock.

The Admissions and Student Engagement and Wellness teams are designing a new mentoring program specifically to help Colorado students transition successfully from high school to college. The idea was developed by Ally Garcia, Ed.D., assistant dean of students, who initially reached out to her former high school in Pueblo to offer support to prospective MSU Denver students. The high school principal enthusiastically supported the effort, which has since been extended to all high schools outside of metro Denver.

“In 2009, I drove two hours to Denver with my car packed, ready for new educational experience at then-Metropolitan State College of Denver,” Garcia recalled. “Denver was scary, and attending an institution in downtown Denver was even scarier. I would have loved having someone from my hometown available to help me navigate Denver and the campus. I hope (this program will) make students from all areas of Colorado feel valued and supported.”

The mentoring program seeks to connect incoming students from smaller or more rural Colorado communities to an MSU Denver faculty or staff member or alum from their hometown – or to someone who shares a similar high school experience. The idea is to ensure that students are connected with a friendly face (one that isn’t necessarily their professor or advisor) so they can begin building a support system before even arriving on campus.

The program will help mentors learn how to help incoming students develop learning objectives and goals, preparing the students for University life and increasing their chances of retention and success. Mentors and mentees will be expected to connect one or two times per month.

University efforts to navigate the COVID-19 closure are also complicating the transition for many incoming students.

“We work with a lot of students who are nervous about their transition from high school to college,” Amanda Ryder, associate director, Admissions, said. “Especially this year, when they weren’t expecting to transition to an online learning program and might be worried about being successful.”

The program will also prepare mentors through two upcoming Teams trainings.

June 11

11 a.m.

Teams sign-in link

June 12

10 a.m.

Teams sign-in link

Interested faculty, staff and alumni should provide their information and select their preferred date as soon as possible.