WASHINGTON, PA (Aug. 22, 2019)—We know that starting college can be a little nerve-wracking, and at Washington & Jefferson College, we’re here for you! We’ve got resources and programs to help you get involved and feeling right at home.
Gateway
We’ve got you covered even before you arrive! Through W&J’s Gateway program, you have all the information you need to prepare for College. We also have a Gateway team made up of current W&J students who are on hand and ready to answer your questions!
Forge Your Foundation
Once you arrive on campus, you’ll want to get to know the place. Through our orientation program, Forge Your Foundation, we’ll introduce you to academic expectations, the diversity of the college, and the importance of community as a whole, on-campus and off. During this time, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with faculty members, learn more about resources and services on campus, and get to know your new friends at the place you’ll call home for the next four years!
First Year Seminar (FYS)
Our First Year Seminars—called FYS on campus—are among the first courses you take when you arrive at W&J. The structure offers support to help you adjust and succeed: your FYS instructor is also your academic advisor, and a dedicated peer mentor will work with your class. Through FYS mentoring and advising, you’ll learn about campus resources and opportunities that will help you succeed for the next four years.
Student Success Consultants
Your transition to college isn’t all about getting used to classes; you’re also getting to know your new home! We’ve got two Student Success Consultants, Jill Gregory and Rachel Stalker, who will work with you both during and outside of your FYS course to help you with things like navigating campus, engaging with College resources and staff, and getting involved in campus activities. You will meet Jill and Rachel during Orientation and will learn which SSC will be your primary consultant. Jill and Rachel also have open office hours throughout the year for you to drop by and ask questions!
LINK Mentors
While we’re here for you and happy to help, sometimes you just need to talk to your peers to get the lay of the land. That’s why we have our LINK Mentor Program, which matches upperclassmen with new students during their first year to aid in adjusting to the academic and social transition between high school and college.
Freshmen Programming and Navigate
You don’t have to worry about being bored at W&J. Our Coordinator of First Year Communities, Kevin Intihar, plans and organizes fun activities and events specifically for freshmen. From floor activities with you resident assistants to cook-outs with the freshmen class, you’ll always have something fun to do!
New this year is Navigate, a co-curricular, first-year experience program in which first-year students participate in friendly competitions and team-building experiences, to build your W&J pride! This is the start of your term as a President, in which you will explore your identity and assess personal goals.
About Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, located in Washington, Pa., is a selective liberal arts college founded in 1781. Committed to providing each of its students with the highest-quality undergraduate education available, W&J offers a traditional arts and sciences curriculum emphasizing interdisciplinary study and independent study work. For more information about W&J, visit washjeff.dev, or call 888-W-AND-JAY.
