https://padlet.com/jladeras26/cstfhcxxkjsltn3g By Jason Laderas, Gabriel Cruz, and Madison Scott en-us 2021-10-10 14:54:44 UTC 2026-03-16 07:31:42 UTC hello@padlet.com jladeras26 https://padlet.com/jladeras26/cstfhcxxkjsltn3g/wish/1805614371 The office of Student Outreach and Retention (SOAR) at NJCU offers a wide range of resources dedicated to assisting first year students with social, financial and academic support. The SOAR office understands that the transition from high school to college can be overwhelming, so their job is to make that transition as comfortable as possible. ]]> 2021-10-10 15:26:14 UTC https://padlet.com/jladeras26/cstfhcxxkjsltn3g/wish/1805614371 jladeras26 https://padlet.com/jladeras26/cstfhcxxkjsltn3g/wish/1805616330 2021-10-10 15:27:22 UTC https://padlet.com/jladeras26/cstfhcxxkjsltn3g/wish/1805616330 jladeras26 https://padlet.com/jladeras26/cstfhcxxkjsltn3g/wish/1805639089 Around the third week of August, right as the nerves for the beginning of college my be setting in, a freshman will recieve a call from the SOAR office about their assigned peer mentor. This is the start of the Rising Knight Peer Mentoring Program, where freshman are paired with an experienced upperclassmen who can guide the student through their freshmen year, both socially and academically. The pairing isn't a randomized process, as SOAR will try to uniquely pair freshman with an upperclassmen that has the same major or lives in the same area. 

 

]]> 2021-10-10 15:39:19 UTC https://padlet.com/jladeras26/cstfhcxxkjsltn3g/wish/1805639089 jladeras26 https://padlet.com/jladeras26/cstfhcxxkjsltn3g/wish/1805679442 One of the most essential components about being a peer mentor are the calling campaigns they engage in with the student they are assigned to. Because it may be awkward at first to pair two students with each other, the calling campaigns serve to establish personal connections. Throughout the school year, the mentor will call the student to inform them about essential dates such as the opening of FASFA or the deadline for add/drop week. During these phone calls, the students can ask as many questions as they want. Furthermore, mentors can refer their mentees to specific locations on campus that suits their needs, like the Tutoring Hub. Lastly, peer mentors know that socializing as a freshman can be daunting, so they do their best to encourage their mentees to attend school events and may even accompany them if needed. ]]> 2021-10-10 16:02:06 UTC https://padlet.com/jladeras26/cstfhcxxkjsltn3g/wish/1805679442 jladeras26 https://padlet.com/jladeras26/cstfhcxxkjsltn3g/wish/1805680634 2021-10-10 16:02:49 UTC https://padlet.com/jladeras26/cstfhcxxkjsltn3g/wish/1805680634 jladeras26 https://padlet.com/jladeras26/cstfhcxxkjsltn3g/wish/1805682498 Signing up to be a mentor is actually very simple and requires some basic qualifications: full time upperclassmen at NJCU with a GPA of 2.75 or above, good reputation within NJCU (no suspensions or violations), understanding of the resources available at NJCU, and overall good interpersonal skills.

Being a peer mentor has its benefits as well, it is a competitive paid position that would look great on any resume. Moreover, being a mentor allows you to network with both students and faculty, creating various opportunities to make meaningful connections in and out of the classroom. If interested, being a peer mentor at NJCU opens to the door to potentially becoming a nationally certified peer mentor.

Application to become a peer mentor:  https://www.njcu.edu/directories/offices-centers/student-outreach-and-retention-soar/become-rising-knight-peer-mentor


]]> 2021-10-10 16:03:47 UTC https://padlet.com/jladeras26/cstfhcxxkjsltn3g/wish/1805682498 jladeras26 https://padlet.com/jladeras26/cstfhcxxkjsltn3g/wish/1805719513 2021-10-10 16:25:44 UTC https://padlet.com/jladeras26/cstfhcxxkjsltn3g/wish/1805719513 jladeras26 https://padlet.com/jladeras26/cstfhcxxkjsltn3g/wish/1805782087 If being paired with a mentor isn't your thing, SOAR also offers opportunities to schedule personalized one on one meetings with staff members to discuss any concerns or to seek any advice. This also can include meetings with parents. To reach out, simply email SOAR at soar@njcu.edu ! ]]> 2021-10-10 17:08:43 UTC https://padlet.com/jladeras26/cstfhcxxkjsltn3g/wish/1805782087 jladeras26 https://padlet.com/jladeras26/cstfhcxxkjsltn3g/wish/1808092404 2021-10-11 15:51:35 UTC https://padlet.com/jladeras26/cstfhcxxkjsltn3g/wish/1808092404 mscott00024 https://padlet.com/jladeras26/cstfhcxxkjsltn3g/wish/1815882097 Soar offers a $500 textbook grant to 1st year freshman's for the whole first year and it can be used at the book store in GSUB to get textbooks for class. To qualify you have to have a family income of $65,000 or less, have filed your 2021-22 FAFSA, and be a first time freshman]]> 2021-10-14 03:33:46 UTC https://padlet.com/jladeras26/cstfhcxxkjsltn3g/wish/1815882097 mscott00024 https://padlet.com/jladeras26/cstfhcxxkjsltn3g/wish/1815895722 Where is Soar located?
   -Vodra Hall, Room 101

How long is Soar open ?
-9am-5pm (Monday-Friday)

What services does Soar provide for students?
 -Mentoring Program, Financial Assitance, Personal Developing Meetings and Protective outreach ]]> 2021-10-14 03:40:13 UTC https://padlet.com/jladeras26/cstfhcxxkjsltn3g/wish/1815895722 mscott00024 https://padlet.com/jladeras26/cstfhcxxkjsltn3g/wish/1815913054 Soar helped me with my financial aid. They told me about the textbook grant which helped with buying the textbooks. They also helped me decide if I wanted to keep the loans that I had. They were nice, weren't judgemental, and made sure I got done what I needed to before leaving.]]> 2021-10-14 03:48:45 UTC https://padlet.com/jladeras26/cstfhcxxkjsltn3g/wish/1815913054 mscott00024 https://padlet.com/jladeras26/cstfhcxxkjsltn3g/wish/1815929483 2021-10-14 03:57:20 UTC https://padlet.com/jladeras26/cstfhcxxkjsltn3g/wish/1815929483 jladeras26 https://padlet.com/jladeras26/cstfhcxxkjsltn3g/wish/1815974061 "My favorite part about my job is honestly just working with the students. I was a first generation college student in my family so when I see students who are in the same position me, I'm able to give them all the knowledge I didn't have."]]> 2021-10-14 04:22:53 UTC https://padlet.com/jladeras26/cstfhcxxkjsltn3g/wish/1815974061 jladeras26 https://padlet.com/jladeras26/cstfhcxxkjsltn3g/wish/1815976976 2021-10-14 04:24:35 UTC https://padlet.com/jladeras26/cstfhcxxkjsltn3g/wish/1815976976