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The Office of Mentoring and Advising (OMA) (located in the Grossley Hall, Room 106) is designed to ease the student's transition to University life and to enrich the quality of life for the student at Delaware State University. The ultimate goal is to increase student retention, from the Freshman to Senior Year. To accomplish this, the OMA Staff assists in the coordination of the activities as follows:
Freshman and New Student Orientation
The activities involve the orientation and registration of Freshmen and New Students, Transfers, Re-Admitted and Special Students. During the summer months, intermittent orientation/registration sessions are held to allow students to take placement tests, meet with academic advisors to plan their schedules, handle financial aid concerns, and take care of payment responsibilities. In August and January, students participate in the "Student Transition Program." This program affords students an opportunity to be further oriented to the University community, meet key administrators and student leaders, receive information about various University programs and service, and register for classes (if the student did not attend the earlier summer orientation/registration periods).
Freshman Orientation
The activities in this course provide further orientation and support for the new student. The course provides students an opportunity to examine and strategically plan the academic and personal aspects of their lives which enables their persistence in being successful at the University. This course is a general education requirement for all matriculated students entering with less than fifteen credit hours. It is recommended that Freshmen enroll in this course during their "first year" at the University in order to derive the full benefit of the course.
Mentoring Programs
The DSU mentoring program is designed to foster a supportive and nurturing experience for the personal, social and intellectual development of DSU students. The mentoring program is currently executed in two phases at DSU; the Professional Mentoring Program and the Peer Mentoring Program. Peer mentors are selected through an interview process based on academic achievement and leadership potential. Faculty referrals are strongly encouraged. Peer mentors assist students, faculty and staff in the Program Jumpstart, and Project Success programs, the University Seminars and the Staying on Course Program.
The DSU Professional Mentoring Program matches students with administrators, faculty and staff. This program encourages cooperative participation in a broad range of activities and provides opportunities for social bonding.
Advising for Undecided Majors
The activities for academic advising provide services for the Undecided Majors and Special students. Academic advising is conducted during the New Student Orientations, Student Transition Week in August and January and Pre-Registration periods in the Fall and Spring. In addition, staff members are available throughout the year to address the concerns of the Undecided Major and Special Student.
Academic Early Warning System
The academic early warning system is a referral system designed to facilitate ongoing communication between faculty, and the Office of Student and Academic Support Services in regard to students who are experiencing academic difficulty and who have attendance problems. Instructors are requested, three times a semester, to submit names of students who could benefit from tutoring, advising, and counseling.
Special designated groups of students are monitored continuously by the Office of Student & Academic Support Services. Progress reports are circulated to faculty on a semesterly basis to monitor the progress of Program Jumpstart and Project Success students; Staying on Course students; students who are readmitted from suspension; and students who have lost their financial aid eligibility.
Program Jumpstart
Program Jumpstart is a residential summer bridge program for incoming freshmen which encompasses an intense six-week academic and cultural enrichment experience. The program ensures a smooth transition into the University by providing intensive intervention strategies that will ensure their academic success and social adjustment. Their strategies include:
- The attainment of nine academic credits in Math, English, Art or Music
- Early assessment
- Mentoring and academic advisement
- Early schedule completion
- Early registration and financial aid advisement
- Career planning
- Social and cultural experiences.
Admission into Program Jumpstart is based upon:
- Admission to Delaware State University by May 15.
- High School academic record (2.5 GPA)
- Three letters of reference
- A personal interview
Project Success
Project Success is a provisionally admitted pre-college program for students who did not originally meet the requirements for admission to DSU. Students participate in a six-week intense summer residential program where they must complete a college Math and English course (6 credits) with a GPA of 2.0 or above. In addition, students are provided with tutoring, support labs, mentoring, counseling and opportunities for social bonding. Upon successful completion of the six-week academic experience, students are regularly admitted into the University for the Fall semester. However, these students continue to be monitored and receive mandatory academic support throughout their first semester.
Staying on Course
The Staying on Course (SOC) program provides students who are on academic probation an opportunity to participate in a structured, semester-long program designed to help them get "back on track" academically. The program involves being assigned to a team which consists of a team leader (staff person) and an academic coach (peer mentor). These support personnel meet with their assigned team on a weekly basis to monitor academic progress, discuss general issues and act as a supportive shoulder for the students on their teams.
In addition, students are expected to attend personal development workshops conducted by the counseling staff and participate in general seminars on financial aid and registration. Moreover, students should enroll in a Learning Strategies course. This program is coordinated by the Office of Student & Academic Support Services whose administrator works cooperatively with the Dean of each school and college.
Veterans Affairs
Located in the Martin Luther King Student Center and staffed with a full-time Counselor and part-time workers, this office is available to veterans or service persons for information processing or counseling as needed.
All persons expecting to receive Veterans' Administration Educational benefits must contact this office.
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