Adelante Pathways Peer Mentorship Program

Adelante Pathways Peer Mentorship Program (Adelante) serves as a college transition program designed to prepare new students and sophomore students for success at William Paterson University.

Adelante is a two-semester mentorship program that will focus on student success and academic resources; strategies on how to be active community members and make meaningful connections; and activities that promote a growth mindset and healthy well-being.

Learning Outcomes

As a result of participating in the Adelante Pathways Peer Mentorship Program, students will:

• Identify at least two University academic support programs and resources intended to help them achieve academic success.
• Meet with their assigned academic advisor twice per semester to establish a working relationship that will allow for 1:1 support with transitional challenges, major/minor declaration, and developing an academic plan for their college experience.
• Identify and use strategies to help them to be successful in the classroom.
• Identify at least three University resources intended to help them maintain their physical and emotional well-being.
• Develop coping strategies to manage the stressors of college.
• Find resources, programs, activities, and events that will assist in the development of their identity, both as individuals and as members of the larger WPUNJ community.
• Establish relationships with those around them and demonstrate engagement with the community.
• Understand the importance of beginning to think about their careers.
• Begin to formulate and communicate their professional goals and values.
• Begin to develop life skills needed to manage work, responsibilities, and challenges of being an adult.
• Identify the skills and knowledge gained from co-curricular involvement and its application to real-life scenarios.

Who is eligible to participate in the program?

Adelante` is open to all students regardless of race, ethnicity, citizenship status, gender, orientation, and other protected classes. Adelante` offers a variety of strategic programs for high-achieving students who are the first in their families to attend college, students who have DACA and undocumented status, and students whose native language is Spanish.

All workshops and programs are open to all students

including those not affiliated with the mentoring program, as well as upper-class students and graduate students. We welcome anyone who seeks to learn and engage at all levels of their collegiate experience.

What's a Pathway? 

Think of it as a journey where you "choose your own adventure". As a mentee, your mentor will help connect you to programs within these paths throughout the year!  

Pathway to Success. In this path, you will learn effective study skills, note-taking, how to relate to faculty and staff, and more about the various academic resources available at WPUNJ to aid in your success.    

Pathway to Friendship. This pathway will focus on student engagement, building community, and your sense of belonging. You will be encouraged to attend campus events and social programming (Student Employment and Volunteer Fair, Meet the Greeks, Athletic home games, Involvement Fairs, and more). 

Pathway to Adulting. The “Adulting” pathway will provide you with personal development and general skills for success in your personal life. Topics will range from time management to financial literacy.

Pathway to Making a Difference. By providing guidance for civic engagement, this pathway will focus on giving you the resources and opportunities to contribute to our local communities.

Pathway to Wellness. Programmatic initiatives for health and wellness are key to a student’s success. You will be introduced to programs and workshops from health and nutrition, and stress management to understanding strategies for coping with racial trauma.

Who are Mentors and how do I get paired?

Mentors are high-achieving students like you. They are committed to supporting students to achieve their own success in the following ways:

• Check in on your general well-being and send you text reminders of important dates and information.
• Assist you with goal setting and connect you with resources when you need support.
• Invite you to events and programs designed to expand your network and transferable skills.
• Coordinate socials and hang-outs for good ole fashion fun.

Students that sign up for the program as a mentee will complete a short Adelante Pathways Peer Mentorship Program Application where they indicate their interests and needs. Mentors who are paired with a mentee share similar interests and have a unique strength or talent that best matches the needs of the mentee.  The Assistant Director for Student Diversity & Inclusion serves as the coordinator of Adelante Pathways Peer Mentorship Program and works with the mentors to do outreach and check on your well-being. 

Sign up here to indicate your interest in the program.  You will receive the Adelante Pathways Peer Mentorship Program Application and invitation for our first interest meeting where all mentees who sign up receive a custom Mentee Shirt.

For more information contact Myranda Barreau, Assistant Director for Student Diversity & Inclusion at barreaum@wpunj.edu.