This week, the College of Visual and Performing Arts will welcome 556 new first-year, transfer and graduate students to campus for the 2019-20 academic year. Thanks to the college’s Office of Student Success, this often-stressful transition to campus life will be a smooth one.
Throughout the year, the Office of Student Success offers all VPA students professional academic advising and career counseling, among other services. The office’s recently expanded staff includes a director, assistant director, four professional academic advisors, two career counselors and a student success coordinator. (A search for a third career counselor is currently underway.)
During Syracuse Welcome, the University’s undergraduate student orientation program, the office will offer new students extra support and guidance throughout the week and over the weekend, right up until the first day of classes on Aug. 26.
“Our team in VPA’s Office of Student Success has been working with our new students throughout the summer, and we are so excited to finally have them join us on campus!” says Carol J. Ruffin, director. “From the moment students accept their offer of admission into their programs, they are each assigned a professional academic advisor and a career counselor in our office who will support and guide them through graduation and beyond.”
During Syracuse Welcome, the office is assisted by a team of trained current VPA students known as peer advisors. These volunteers, who represent all six of the college’s schools and departments, are assigned a group of incoming undergraduate students to connect with over the summer and mentor throughout the coming academic year. Peer advisors are available during many VPA activities for Syracuse Welcome, including the student meeting and the Office of Student Success’ weekend hours. They provide first-hand insight into all aspects of the student experience.
“Peer advisors are an essential part of what I like to call the Welcome Committee,” says Hannah Nast ’13 G’17, a professional academic advisor in the Office of Student Success and former VPA peer advisor. “You have representatives from all over the University and VPA talking about how wonderful your four years will be, but who is better suited to the task than a peer? Who else will know where the best food is? The quietest part of the library? Or more likely, how long it takes to get from the dorm to your classroom so you can sleep in as long as possible?”
After Syracuse Welcome, students are encouraged to stay connected to the office.
“We work with students in a holistic way,” explains Ruffin. “They can come to us if they want to share their excitement about what they are learning, opportunities they have been exposed to, or with questions and concerns. We also work closely with our students to connect them with support services throughout the University.”
To contact the Office of Student Success, call 315-443-2517 or email . Follow the office on Twitter and Instagram.