AXcel Peer Mentoring

Provided by SFA's Student Access and Development Services, the Axcel Peer-to-Peer Mentoring program supports first-year and transfer students in their transition to student life at SFA.

With an emphases on academic excellence, leadership and personal growth, we match students with current student leaders who exhibit a healthy balance between academics and involvement. Each mentee also is paired with a successful SFA alum or faculty or staff member, allowing the student the opportunity for additional support.

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Peer mentors and mentees after the end-of-the-year banquet

About the program

Our overall mission is to help first-year students acclimate to their new community and university. Their new SFA environment can be confusing. They do not know where their classes are, how to navigate the campus, what questions to ask or how to get involved. Therefore, our mission is to:

support students in increasing independent living skills
provide a safe and consistent relationship between students, faculty and staff
Educate first-year students on the stressors of college
develop leadership skills while promoting academic excellence
increase retention rates among first-year students
and provide continual and relevant training to equip mentors with resources to effectively assist their mentees.

Benefits to having an Axcel mentor

By participating in Axcel, students will be able to:

demonstrate accountability for their learning experience and academic success
identify key university resources that can assist them in their journey to graduation
create relationships with a network of peers, faculty and staff on campus
effectively practice developmental skills, such as time management, financial literacy and self-careaccess personal and professional enrichment opportunities
and attend programs during which mentors and mentees actively interact and participate.

Roles

Peer Mentor — A student who offers friendship, help and advice to a mentee. Mentors have knowledge and experiences in specific areas that mentees can use to guide them. Mentors listen, answer questions and spend time with their mentees to help them acclimate to their new surroundings more easily.

Faculty/Staff Mentor — An SFA professional who offers guidance and support to a mentee. As SFA employees, faculty and staff mentors can introduce their mentees to various on- and off-campus resources, connect them with other professionals, create opportunities for them, and serve as a point of reference. This type of mentorship helps mentees feel more comfortable reaching out to other SFA professors and administrators.

Mentee — A first-year or transfer student looking for friendship and guidance from current Lumberjacks and SFA professionals to achieve a healthy academic and involvement balance. Mentees ask questions, listen, accept good advice and spend time with their mentors to help them adjust to Lumberjack Life.

Graduate Assistant

Program Coordinators

2024-2025 AXcel Peer Mentors

Student Development and Access Services

Peer Mentoring & Collaboration