First-year Mentoring Programs
At Bucknell, you'll have access to life-changing experiences on and off campus from day one, and we don't want you to wait to learn about any of them. That's why we'll connect you with a student mentor before your first class even begins. Throughout your first year, you'll meet regularly with a mentor from your college, who will answer your questions and teach you about resources and opportunities like internships, events, clubs and organizations, undergraduate research, study abroad and much more. These mentors won't just help you settle into your new home, they'll help you make the most of all four years at Bucknell.
To best answer your questions and direct you to resources that most apply to you, each college at Bucknell has its own mentoring program:
- CAS Mentor Collective is for students in the College of Arts & Sciences
- Garman Guides is for students in the College of Engineering
- Freeman Fellows is for students in the Freeman College of Management
Each program works a little differently, so please check the information that applies to your college below. You'll receive more information about the program and an introduction to your mentor the summer before your first semester. Watch your email for this invitation.
CAS Mentor Collective
CAS Mentor Collective is the mentoring program for students beginning in the College of Arts & Sciences. Incoming students are matched with a peer mentor based on common interests, background, academic interests and professional goals. To help match you with a mentor, we'll ask you to complete an online survey to help us get to know you before you begin your first year. Throughout the year, you'll connect one-on-one with your mentor, who will help you navigate your first year of college, build your social network, answer questions and recognize opportunities like extracurriculars, internships, undergraduate research, study abroad and much more.
For questions about the program, or to apply to serve as a mentor for first-year students, please contact:
Bethany Collier, Academic Associate Dean of Arts & Sciences
bethany.collier@bucknell.edu
Garman Guides
Garman Guides is the first-year mentoring program for students in the College of Engineering. First-year students meet in groups with their mentors from the junior or senior class, who also assist in the Engineering 099 seminar course. As you explore all areas of engineering offered at Bucknell in this exciting first-semester class, you'll meet regularly with your guide, build connections with your classmates, and learn about resources and programs, including those just for engineering students. Throughout your entire first year, your guide will be there to answer questions and help you connect with internship and career resources, engineering clubs and societies, undergraduate research and design experiences, and more.
For questions about the program, or to apply to serve as a mentor for first-year students, please contact garmanguides@bucknell.edu.
Freeman Fellows
Freeman Fellows is the first-year mentoring program for students entering the Freeman College of Management. In the summer before you arrive at Bucknell, you will be paired with a junior or senior student mentor who will help answer questions as you navigate your first year of college. In the fall semester, you will meet in small groups in your Management 100 class, where Freeman Fellows will serve as teaching assistants. In this informative first-semester course, you will explore all areas of management offered at Bucknell as you meet weekly with your mentor, build connections with your classmates, and learn about resources and programs, including study-abroad opportunities like our management abroad program in Dublin. Throughout your entire first year, your student mentor will be there to answer questions and help you connect with internship and career resources, clubs and societies, opportunities to connect with our accomplished alumni, and more.
For questions about the program, or to apply to serve as a mentor for first-year students, please contact:
Ivy Kepner, Academic Associate Dean, Freeman College of Management
ivy.kepner@bucknell.edu