Graduate Student Office of the First-Year Experience Fall2026

Graduate Student Office of the First-Year Experience Fall
2026

Winthrop Position Title Graduate Student Office of the First-Year Experience Fall
2026

Job Purpose

First Year Experience (FYE) is seeking a graduate student to support the FYE Program. This student is an integral member of the Office of the First-Year Experience staff and reports directly to the director of FYE. This position supports the director in planning, implementing & assisting the university’s first-year experience, peer mentor program, and ACAD 101. The primary role of the student will co‑supervise all aspects of the Peer Mentor Program, including an annual staff of 40‑55 Peer Mentors.

The student will also assist in supporting first‑year students by utilizing systems such as EdSights, and managing marketing and social media campaigns. The selected student must also complete ASC training (e.g., FYE, Tutoring, Advising) and on‑boarding requirements. In addition, the student will assist with managing the Learning Management System (LMS) that supports ACAD.
(Principles of the Learning Academy) ACAD is a 1‑credit hour elective letter grade course designed to assist students in transitioning to the University and collegiate life. The course is essential for all first‑time students, providing an introduction to the concepts, principles and skills necessary for successful higher learning and facilitates students’ adjustment to an engagement in the learning academy. Students also learn and apply critical thinking skills toward diversity and social justice issues, career‑readiness and other topics that promote student success persistence through the first year and beyond.

Each section of ACAD 101 is assigned an Adjunct Faculty and Peer Mentor selected by ACAD program staff.

• Provide oversight, development, and management to the Peer‑Mentorship program.
• Create and manage a Peer Mentor LEAD course and co‑facilitate the instruction with director.
• Recruit, interview, select, and assign Peer Mentors for Fall and Spring semesters.
• Plan and facilitate Peer Mentor trainings (prior to each semester) and weekly Team Meetings.
• Develop lesson plans/instructions and activities to support ACAD Peer Mentors in their role.
• Hold office hours for ACAD Peer Mentors and required weekly check‑ins.
• Manage Peer Mentor bi‑weekly time‑sheets, tracking hours, and weekly time logs in excel.

• In collaboration with campus stakeholders, develop cutting‑edge, high‑impact signature programs and events focused on retaining first‑year students.
• Work with a number of staff and faculty (e.g., orientation leaders, New Student and Family Programs, Athletics, DiGiorgio Student Union, and Tau Sigma National Transfer Honor Society (Advisors) to identify and develop signature experiences and events for first‑time Winthrop students.
• Assist with outreach to at‑risk first‑year students identified through the early alert warning system to assess needs & make appropriate referrals in consultation with the Center for Advising and Transfer Success (CATS) and FYE.
• Plan and participate in tabling, presentations, social media campaigns, and develop marketing for campus‑wide distribution regarding the FYE experience and the Peer Mentor Program.

• Support all aspects of ACAD and read all course materials.
• Serve as the liaison between ACAD Faculty and ACAD 101 Peer Mentors maintaining frequent communication between both groups.
• Be prepared to facilitate any ACAD section meeting as needed (will work with director in advance).
• Research and evaluate the ACAD program in conjunction with the director measuring programmatic outcomes.
• Evaluate ACAD Peer Mentor midterm and final performance and troubleshoot challenges during the academic year.
• Attend all ACAD Faculty Trainings and assist in observing class sections of Faculty and Peer Mentors.
• Participate in weekly meetings with the director of the FYE.
• Attend all FYE staff meetings, trainings, and retreats. Other duties as assigned to the director.
• Support department initiatives within the Academic Success Center.

• Maintain regular weekly office hours (20…