UA News

The UA's MERITS program, which is designed to retain university freshmen, is strengthening its efforts at the same time it is seeing a growth in enrollment.

The vision for one freshman retention program at the University of Arizona is to help new students transition while building a support network that relies heavily on peer-to-peer support. 

The UA's MERITS program, which currently is enrolling students, has existed for nearly 40 years. It's now seeing the most growth in its history while working to ensure that new students have the academic and social support they need. 

"As students get connected, the chances of retention are much higher," said Christine Salvesen, the Student Transitions director for academic success and achievement.

"We know students relate well to one another, so we are connecting them with peers," she added.

The program, Maximum Educational Results in Two Semesters, trains UA students to support newcomers on ways to successfully complete their first year while working toward an undergraduate degree.

"Given the strong results of MERITS in the past, we are looking to increase the opportunity for more students to participate," Salvensen said, adding that the program is expecting more than 600 students.

The Arizona Assurance scholars spike is driving the demands for MERITS, which is committed to serving a larger number of students, said Mary Frances Kuper, the New Start Summer Program coordinator who also coordinates MERITS.

This year, Arizona Assurance welcomes 1,000 new freshman scholars, up from 800 last year.

And an additional 100 students have visited MERITS, a cost-free program located in the basement of the UA Nugent Building, to learn more about its workshops, mentoring and other offerings, Kuper said.

Kuper also said MERITS has seen an increase in out-of-state students. 

"We're doing more outreach among out-of-state students because the transitions can be particularly daunting, especially if, say, you are moving from the East Coast," she said. 

MERITS now has oversight of three other retention programs: 360 Scholars for African American students, First Year Scholars Program for American Indians and Edge for Asian Pacific American students. The programs were formerly housed in the UA's multicultural student centers.

Subsequently, MERITS has hired 35 peer advisers, UA students who often have gone through the program or a comparable retention program, such as New Start or TRiO. 

That is part of a larger plan to ensure that a continuum of students are committed to serving as peer advisers for others in the program.

"We are focusing on a lot of traditional topics that tend to be challenges for students," Kuper said, noting that a key issue is helping students to connect with others once on campus.

"A lot of issues tend to come up for students when they get to know their peer adviser," she said. 

Nita Ocansey, a UA junior studying nutritional science, is one of those peer advisers. 

"I love how I was able to get help through my peers," said  Ocansey, who was previously involved in New Start and the 360 program.

In her third year as an adviser, Ocansey, like other advisers, will offer workshops on time and stress management, exam preparation, study habits, ethics, conflict management and other demands of being a college student. 

"My peer mentors provided me with the help and guidance that I needed, and it inspired me to help others," she said. 

Like Ocansey, Jessica Mejia said the peer-to-peer connection was invaluable, even though both her parents attended the UA.

"They were here a while ago and things are so different. They helped me, but they don't know all the buildings or where I need to go," said Mejia, a UA senior majoring in Mexican American studies and history who coordinates the group of peer advisers.

"So having someone who was one or two years older than me was a huge help," she said. "It was good for me."