information for first years

What is the Student Connect Mentoring Programme?

The Student Connect Mentoring Programme provides a friendly introduction to NUI Galway for first year students. Existing students are tasked with ensuring the fluent integration of incoming First Years into university life. This voluntary programme will assist First Years with any transitional needs and mentors will be a go-to person for any problems they may have or assistance they may require. The Student Connect Mentoring Programme is an invaluable component of student services and its success relies on the contribution of Connect volunteers.

The role of a mentor is to:

Meeting your mentor

First contact with your assigned mentor will consist of an introductory email in late August and will include details of the first official meeting. The first meeting will take place during orientation week on either the 4th or 5th September, depending on your subject discipline. This will consist of a reintroduction with your mentor and will inform you of what to expect from the Student Connect Mentoring Programme throughout the first semester. Here you will also get to meet the other First Years in your assigned group and get the opportunity to have any questions/queries that you may have answered. You will also get details here of a second meeting which will take place at a later date.

Constant contact with your assigned mentor will occur through weekly emails which will inform you of future events and will link you to the weekly blogs, which will discuss and address matters relating to student life. They will always be on hand to ensure and promote a smooth integration into NUI Galway.

Benefits of having a mentor

• First hand knowledge of university life from a current student who knows exactly the concerns of incoming First Years
• An experienced confidante with whom you can rely on and go to without any hesitation
• Mentoring is aimed to foster and encourage friendship within your mentor group and aid in the stress-free integration into university life

What previous First Years had to say

"The Student Connect Mentoring Programme gave me the opportunity to meet new people and were a friendly face if I had any problems or questions"

"My mentor provided me with much useful information which was reassuring in my transition into NUIG"

"My mentor was a vital helping hand to me in my first few weeks of First Year and it would most definitely encourage me to join the Student Connect Mentoring Programme to help the next batch of First Years!"

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