Now in its second year, the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences’ “Reach” peer support program offers first- and second-year students a virtual place to go to talk to upper-year students about their questions and concerns.

Reach peers can engage via live drop-in sessions on Blackboard, by email chat, or on the FAHSS App.

When a student joins a Reach session, they can expect to receive advice and tips from a trained mentor on:

• Student life (joining clubs, extra-curricular activities, on-campus involvement);
• Study skills strategies;
• Time management strategies;
• Campus resources and services; and
• First-year transition questions.

“The purpose of Reach is to ensure that first- and second-year students are receiving the help they need to succeed and get involved,” explains Tony Vo, student success and support coordinator in FAHSS. “All mentors are upper-year students who have received training for this role. They are dedicated to helping their fellow students with the transition to university.”

Reach sessions run from noon to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday. Visit the Reach website for the schedule and link to the Reach Portal on Blackboard.

FAHSS students can also email questions or concerns to reach@uwindsor.ca and a Reach Peer will try and answer it within 24 hours.

Meet some members of the Reach Peer Support Team:

Cheyann Labadie, a social work student, says her favourite thing about the University of Windsor is the diversity among the students and the staff.

Cheryl Mengjia Pan, a psychology major, says the Writing Support Desk and Academic Advising Office really helped her a lot in my first year: “The staff are always so welcoming and patient.”

Jenny Loiselle, also studying psychology, says her favourite thing about UWindsor is the support system — not just between peers, but from professors as well. “We all celebrate each other and our accomplishments, no matter how big or small, and we are all there for each other when things get hard and we feel like we just can't do it anymore.”

Sydney Reid, majoring in forensic science with a minor in anthropology, says she values how diverse and welcoming the campus community is. “No matter what year, program, or interests you have, there is always a place for anyone at UWin!”

Chloe Dockrill, a drama in education and community student, says she appreciates the numerous opportunities she found at the University of Windsor. “There are resources to help manage classes and other issues, activities to help unwind during the day, and lots of clubs and jobs open for students to get more involved on campus.”

Marissa Paulin, in the law and politics program, feels privileged to hear the insights provided by a wide variety of opinions. “I learn something extra every class just through my fellow classmates speaking on their thoughts and experiences.”

—Susan McKee