Success for Surge to Success: SLC's Pilot Program for New Student Transition 

Submitted by Michael Richards, Student Leadership & Co-Curricular Learning Officer 

In the busy halls of the fall semester, a new initiative was launched, aimed at supporting the journey of incoming students throughout their first eight weeks of college life. This post-orientation program, named Surge to Success, became a touchpoint of support and guidance for students in need of navigating their new chapter at SLC. 

“I arrived from the Dominican Republic with no prior knowledge of this place or anyone here. Using the [Surge to Success] checklist, I not only had the opportunity to meet incredible peers but also gained a better understanding of how things work at SLC. The experience was both fun and engaging, making my introduction to the environment smooth and enjoyable.” – Esmirna 

As branding and a-frame posters spread about each of our campuses, this pilot initiative was promoted during faculty orientation sessions and introduced to first-year classrooms to help encourage student participation. Through collaboration and support from colleagues on the New Student Transition committee, Surge to Success was created as a new pathway in UR SLC, the college’s student engagement app.

“With the goal of packaging SLC’s post-orientation events, resources, and workshops into an accessible and easy-to-navigate pathway, Surge to Success was able to bridge the gap between apprehension and confidence that often accompanies a student’s first steps onto a college campus,” explained Sarah Durant and Crystal Graveline, Student Success Facilitators and Lead Chairs of the First 8-Week Subcommittee. 

“I appreciated participating in Surge to Success. Through this program, I was encouraged to join many college events and groups that otherwise I would not have had the courage to participate. I also highly recommend Surge to Success to other students to learn how many help centers there are at the college. I am a shy person, and this program was the aid that I needed to involve myself in campus life.” - Natalia 

At the centre of Surge to Success is engagement. The initiative offers a variety of events and workshops that are spread amongst different categories for students to choose from. From Academic Success and Student Wellness workshops to Campus Life and Belonging events, Surge to Success incorporated various options for first-year students to explore their interests and develop their skills early on. The needs of our students are multifaceted, and each category offers them a roadmap for accessing an important resource, connecting with a service area, and attending an in-person or virtual event. 

“The two main goals I have set for myself while attending St. Lawrence College have been academic success in all classes and making sure that I am actively taking care of my health, both mentally and physically. I believe Surge to Success has helped in a multitude of ways by keeping me connected to all activities and resources on campus. I have specifically taken advantage of our access to the wellness centre! The kind people there have really helped with the transition into college life.” – Olivia 

Recognizing the varied paces at which students choose to participate, Surge to Success incorporated self-directed resources into each checklist. With the UR SLC platform, students were able to navigate their way to important groups, watch videos, connect with peers through community posts, book appointments with service areas, and submit self-reflections. The aim was to ensure a balanced mix of events and self-guided work that culminated in personal reflection and goal setting. This flexibility enabled students to take ownership of their first 8-week experience and choose which items they wanted to focus on and when. 

As the weeks unfolded, students continued their efforts and allowed momentum to take them to the finish line. A total of 19 students completed the entire program and proudly earned their first digital badge, a recognition of achievement displayed in UR SLC. This badge is used to showcase their commitment to personal and academic development, along with their dedication to starting off on the right foot.  

 “The last two months at SLC have been amazing for me and I hope it gets better and better as time passes. My favourite moments will always be the Karaoke Night at the pub, playing Smash Bros at the Caf, and tasting new food at the Taste of Cultures event. By finishing Surge to Success, my two goals are: one, to be the first person to hit Surge Supreme, and two, volunteer and work more for SLC.” - Hrishikesh 

 “As we celebrate our new students and their successful transition to SLC, we extend our gratitude to the support staff and faculty who helped spread the word about this new initiative. Students rely heavily on the recommendations from our college staff and word of mouth is how we get programs like this in front of more students,” said Ross McMillan, Director of Student Success & Services. As SLC continues to cultivate a welcoming community and finds unique ways to support new student transitions, we encourage our colleagues to reach out and learn how to get involved. The more events, the more workshops, the more resources, the better.  

To get involved with winter 2024, please get in touch with us at URSLC@sl.on.ca. 
  
“[Surge to Success] has helped with my goal of balancing social life with academic life and making the most of my time while on campus. So far, I've been meeting a lot of people and attending many events. I'm really happy with it, cause I feel like I'm making friends and really enjoying my time while also being able to focus on my studies! And whenever I feel down, these events help me with stress and cheer me up.” - Angel 
 
Now that makes us all #ProudtobeSLC!