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 fycas@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 sophomore, 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 and Management 100 (MGMT 100)

The Freeman Fellows program is the first-year mentoring program for students entering the Freeman College of Management. In the summer before students arrive at Bucknell, they will be paired with a junior or senior student mentor who will help answer questions as they navigate their first year in the college. Fellows are prepared to answer many questions, from "What's the best place for a late night snack?" to "How do you recommend getting involved on campus?" to "What is the coursework like?" They are also excellent referral agents, prepared to connect students to individuals and offices who can provide additional information and support.

In their first semester, incoming students will engage with a Freeman Fellow throughout the MGMT 100 course, which is required of all first-year students in the Freeman College of Management. The Fellows serve as Teaching Assistants, providing classroom support during the large group meeting. In this informative course, students will explore key concepts related to student success while beginning to build a personal, professional brand. The course content focuses on essential soft skills — such as communication, collaboration, perspective taking, and adaptability — that are strongly correlated with academic persistence and post-graduate employability.

After each large group session, students meet in a small group with their Freeman Fellow to follow up on the content of the class with more individualized learning and the opportunity to engage more deeply with the content. The Freeman Fellows facilitate discussion and guide students through skills development exercises. These small group sessions are also valuable for developing community connections within the peer group and providing space for additional questions.

For questions about the program, please contact:

Devon M. Whalen, Director, Office of Student Services, Freeman College of Management