ASFA creates the Enhanced Shadow Program
A new mentoring program from the Arts and Science Federation of Associations (ASFA) aims to help new students navigate the university and find the resources they need to succeed beyond their first few weeks at Concordia.
The initiative, known as the ASFA Enhanced Shadow Program (ESP), was launched last year by Christina Gentile, ASFA’s vice-president, Academic at the time. This year, ASFA’s Vice-President of Academic and Loyola Affairs, Eric-Moses Gashirabake Sr., took over as the program’s director.
“The ESP is simply geared towards enhancing the academic and student life gains of new students at Concordia University,” says Gashirabake. “ ‘New’ does not necessarily imply 'first year', even though that is our main target.”
Gashirabake says the program’s volunteers help new students learn about all aspects of Concordia, from academic programs to popular extracurricular activities, to other less obvious resources and opportunities available to students.
New students and shadows are paired up based on their program of study, whether academic help is necessary, or simply by campus. Volunteer mentors are available to help students with academic tutoring, mentoring, and general help regarding on-campus services or events.
“For example, someone who is taking a semester of classes at the Loyola Campus or even the Sir George Williams Campus would need help in finding out amazing places such as the GE Building (the Centre for Structural and Functional Genomics), the Dean of Student's Office, or even the Greenhouse on top of the (Henry F.) Hall Building,” Gashirabake explains. “Additionally, an experienced student may help a shadow in knowing which courses and professors to take based on interests.”
The VP insists that the many benefits of involvement in a volunteer program such as the ASFA Enhanced Shadow Program are felt by both the students and their mentors.
“From my own personal experience in the Department of Political Science, I can say that I gained a lot of insight from a very helpful fourth-year student who also happened to have been the VP Internal Affairs for the Political Science Students' Association,” Gashirabake says. “Aside from being able to help me become a strategic student, she also inspired me to become a student leader, become more engaged in the Concordia community and also eventually enhance this program in a more practical way.”
Gashirabake’s own mentor told him that volunteering to help him with his studies contributed to her realization that she wants to work toward becoming a professor. “She also won a Montreal community award for exemplary volunteerism,” he says.
Gashirabake says he hopes the ASFA shadow mentoring program will strengthen the overall student experience at Concordia. “Through conversations with new students, my own personal experience, the experience of others, the need for a student-to-student program to complement departmental efforts, I believe this program will go a long way towards helping Concordia achieve its academic mission to reach out,” he says.
Those looking for more information about the program or to become involved as a shadow or mentor should contact Gashirabake directly at academic@asfa.ca.
Related links:
• ASFA
• ASFA on Facebook