COMPASS Connects New Students with Peer Support at King's
There’s a warm welcome waiting at King’s University College, where the new Campus Orientation and Mentorship Program, known as COMPASS, connects students coming to King’s for the first time with trained peer mentors who can help them adjust to university life, build connections and navigate campus resources.
The program supports incoming international and exchange students, as well as domestic students entering their first year at King’s. Students can connect with COMPASS throughout the academic year as questions or challenges arise. Mentors can help students understand what support is available, connect them with appropriate people and services, and provide a familiar point of contact on campus. The program also creates opportunities for students to meet others through events and workshops throughout the academic year, including activities during Orientation Week.
Emily Skinner, Student Engagement & Transition Coordinator, says COMPASS is designed to give new students support from the beginning of their university experience, building confidence and belonging from day one.
“We understand the transition to university can be difficult, as new students often arrive without a clear sense of where to turn for guidance, how to build a new community or how to navigate the ‘hidden curriculum,’ the unwritten expectations and practical knowledge involved in university life outside the classroom,” says Skinner.
COMPASS helps address those challenges by pairing students with trained peer mentors who can help them build confidence, understand academic expectations and connect with appropriate King’s resources.
Early connections can be especially important during the first weeks of university, when students are learning new routines, meeting new people and becoming familiar with academic expectations and campus services. Beyond Orientation Week and Bridging Week, COMPASS mentors stay connected with their mentees through ongoing check-ins and encouragement.
International students receive additional support as they adjust not only to university, but to living and studying in a new country.
“I was a peer guide last year and I met a lot of exchange students. It was a really neat experience because they come from all over the world to London, Ontario to experience it here,” says Maria Garces, COMPASS Program Student Coordinator and a fourth-year student pursuing a double major in Criminology and Politics and International Relations.
“I could see how big of an impact it has when someone connects with a new student one-on-one. I found that exchange students really appreciated having someone to help them with simple things, too, like going to the mall for the first time.”
To learn more about COMPASS, visit the COMPASS information page or email compass@kings.uwo.ca.