Syracuse Sun

As the Class of 2025 prepares for graduation in May, many students will have completed four years participating in a program aimed at easing new students into life at Syracuse University. This initiative, known as the First Year Seminar (FYS), involves students initially as participants and later as peer leaders over their college years.

The FYS is a one-credit, 15-week course that introduces students to university life through discussions, activities, and assignments. It covers topics such as belonging, interdependence, wellness, identity development, socialization, discrimination, bias, and stereotypes. The course aims to foster community building and connections among students and faculty.

Since its inception in 2021, over 500 individuals have taken part in FYS as lead instructors or peer leaders. With approximately 4,000 new first-year students annually and class sections limited to 19 students each for an intimate setting, 225 peer leaders were required for the year 2024.

Shannon Hitchcock Schantz and Jimmy Luckman oversee the program as director and associate director respectively. They emphasize the critical role of peer leaders in connecting FYS participants with each other and university resources. "Peer leaders are a big part of the FYS experience," says Luckman. "They connect students where they want to be connected."

The program has seen growth over four years under Schantz's leadership. She notes that they are now looking to enhance the peer leader experience further by considering new development models and expanding leadership opportunities.

Peer leaders also engage in community service projects like "Blessings in a Backpack," which supports local school children with food initiatives. Recruitment for these roles has been successful due to student interest in community-building work.

Feedback from peer leaders is used to improve their roles and the co-facilitation model of the course. Schantz highlights how both lead instructors and peer leaders contribute significantly to creating a positive learning environment.

Four senior students shared their experiences with SU News about serving as peer leaders throughout their college years:

Mariana Godinez-Andraca appreciates how FYS encourages difficult conversations on cultural awareness and empathy: "What I value most is that FYS embraces these conversations wholeheartedly."

Aaron Hong found value in discussions on diversity after transitioning back from virtual learning: "Having those conversations...is pretty important."

Adira Ramirez developed skills in communication through her involvement: "It’s our lens...how we view the world."

Nehilah Grand-Pierre enjoyed engaging interactions with participants: "I saw how real experiences helped drive discussions."

Applications for future peer leader positions are open until early December via Handshake or by contacting firstyear@syr.edu or calling 315-443-9035.