Irene’s 17 mentors are responsible for the newcomers‘ transition from school to university, in terms of their academic welfare, social well-being etc. Mentors are residents chosen from different areas of study to help newcomers register, find their classes, manage their schedules and lead a balanced life.
Mentors assist newcomers in the following ways:
- 1. Administration – Newcomers are guided through registration processes.
- 2. Mentor Sessions – Each newcomer is assigned to a mentor, forming small mentor groups of between 6 and 9 Ireners. These mentor groups meet throughout the welcoming period until classes start, as well as on a weekly basis during the remainder of the year.
- 3. Study Sessions – Newcomers participate in weekly study sessions under the supervision of the academic mentors.
“Be-Well” is a Student Wellness Project that forms part of the wider campus mentoring programme. It focuses on six dimensions – Social, Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, Spiritual and Occupational – which together provide extensive holistic support to newcomers. Research has shown that “Wellness can be linked to flourishing in life, and for this reason, the programme was adopted by Irene for the past five years.
The 2019 mentors can be seen below:
