The Office of Mentoring and Advising (OMA) is designed to ease the student's transition to University life and to enrich the quality of life for the student at Delaware State University. The ultimate goal is to increase student retention, from the Freshman to Senior Year. To accomplish this, the OMA Staff assists in the coordination of the activities as follows:
Advisement Outreach Center
The mission of the Advisement Outreach Center is to focus on student-centered advising which allows students to create ideas without receiving them from others, and understand that there are many ways to view those ideas. This concept empowers all students to formulate their skills, interests, and talents, while achieving academic goals. In turn, students are provided support services along their journey to motivate and stimulate their minds towards career goals and ultimately selection of an academic major.
Mentoring Programs
The DSU mentoring program is designed to foster a supportive and nurturing experience for the personal, social and intellectual development of DSU students. The mentoring program is currently executed in two phases at DSU; the Professional Mentoring Program and the Peer Mentoring Program. Peer mentors are selected through an interview process based on academic achievement and leadership potential. Faculty referrals are strongly encouraged. Peer mentors assist students, faculty and staff in the Program Jumpstart, and Project Success programs, the University Seminars and the Staying on Course Program.
The DSU Professional Mentoring Program matches students with administrators, faculty and staff. This program encourages cooperative participation in a broad range of activities and provides opportunities for social bonding.
The activities for academic advising provide services for the Undecided Majors and Special students. Academic advising is conducted during the New Student Orientations, Student Transition Week in August and January and Pre-Registration periods in the Fall and Spring. In addition, staff members are available throughout the year to address the concerns of the Undecided Major and Special Student.
The academic early warning system is a referral system designed to facilitate ongoing communication between faculty, and the Office of Student and Academic Support Services in regard to students who are experiencing academic difficulty and who have attendance problems. Instructors are requested, three times a semester, to submit names of students who could benefit from tutoring, advising, and counseling.
Special designated groups of students are monitored continuously by the Office of Student & Academic Support Services. Progress reports are circulated to faculty on a semesterly basis to monitor the progress of Program Jumpstart and Project Success students; Staying on Course students; students who are readmitted from suspension; and students who have lost their financial aid eligibility.
Peer Advisement Leaders (PALS) Program
The Peer Advisement Leaders (PALS) Program is designed to enhance the total student experience at DSU. As a PAL, you will assist the Mentoring and Advising staff during advisement, registration and orientation periods (fall, spring and summer); advise and assist students with course selection and registration; provide students with academic and other support services information; create an awareness to university, departmental and Mentoring and Advising policies; and connect and engage students with academic departments.
