First Year Experience Program (FEP) at a glance:
Each incoming international student is matched with an upper-year mentor according to academic interest.
Mentors can help students get involved with campus life and UTSC leadership development programs
Student Mentors will assist new international students with their academic, social and cultural transition to U of T Scarborough.
Starting university, especially in a new country, can be an intimidating process. This is why the International Student Centre (ISC) in conjunction with the Department of Student Life has created a program which targets the issues new students may encounter when they begin university. The program is called the First Year Experience Program (FEP). The aim of the program is to make the transition from high school to university as comfortable and enjoyable as possible! Previously, the ISC had administered the International Student Mentorship Program (ISMP) which was exclusively directed toward first year international students.
However, the ISC and Department of Student Life have decided to merge the ISMP and FEP so that the program is accessible to all first year students. This combined program will offer similar support as the previous ISMP program but it will have the added advantage of providing the international students a chance to familiarize themselves and chat with other international students as well as domestic students. This affords both domestic and international students the opportunity to learn more about each other and improve social skill while learning about the campus and adjusting to student life.
The FEP program was designed to encourage students to engage in peer-to-peer learning and support. The program is designed around small group engagement in which each first year international student is paired with a mentor from an upper year and 6-8 other first year students, both domestic and international. The students are paired with their mentor during the fall semester. The mentor will function as the group guide and can give tips about academics, social life, and on-campus services which are available to the students. Also, students will have the opportunity to attend leadership development workshops and participate in on and off campus activities with their mentoring group. The small group setting allows students ample opportunity to make new friends during the program!
For more information on the program or how to become a mentor, please click here .
