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January 30, 2023

Learner Mentors

Richard Bland College of William & Mary is the first U.S. college to introduce Exceptional Student Experience with a goal of 100% student success. RBC Learner Mentors are changing the college experience. 

Jasmine Hickson is the first person to admit that she did not know everything the Learner Mentor program at Richard Bland College of William & Mary (RBC) offered before joining the staff as a student worker during the Spring 2022 semester. 

“I was not too sure about what it did aside from registration and campus events,” remembered Hickson, who is now a junior Neuroscience major at William & Mary (W&M). “However, shortly after starting, I understood what their purpose was on campus and how I could help make an impact as well.” 

A Learner Mentor, assigned to each student upon enrollment, serves as a point of contact throughout the individual’s schooling at RBC. Learner Mentors help students develop academic plans and explore majors, while also connecting them to tutors and other resources to help set them up for success in the classroom. 

Thom Addington, the chair of RBC’s English and Humanities Department, also became RBC’s director of Student Success in March 2021. He says the difference between Learner Mentors and traditional academic advisors is best understood by comparing urgent care facilities and the emergency room (ER) at a hospital. 

“If you go to the ER, you wait in triage. They’ll take your information, you’ll wait more, maybe see a physician, but likely a nurse practitioner, and then they send you home with a hefty bill. That’s how academic advising works in some cases,” Addington explained. “I see Learner Mentors at more of the urgent care level. You wake up with a sore throat, and you can pop in without an appointment, see someone relatively quickly and head home, even with your medicine most of the time. Learner Mentors work the same way. You pop in, see them and get the information you need in a shorter period.” 

The Learner Mentor program is located in the campus library for easy access. Virtual office hours are also available. 

“A lot of times students have questions, and they like the ‘open door’ feel,” said Hannah Hensley, who has been a Learner Mentor for more than a year. “We talk about paths to their degree and what courses are required. It is all very individualized based on their backgrounds and where they want to go.” 

Hensley, who worked in residence life at RBC before becoming a Learner Mentor, often connects with participants in the Middle College program, which allows qualified Petersburg High School students to earn an Asociate Degree while finishing their high school diploma. 

“They’re 16 or 17 and still in that high school mindset,” described Hensley. “I work with them on managing their time, making plans and sticking to a schedule. Skills they can use in life in addition to their education.” 

According to Learner Mentor Ben Thoreson, the diversity of RBC’s campus is evident in the range of students and needs his team addresses on a daily basis. 

“I’ve recently talked to international students from Portugal, Vietnam and China,” said Thoreson, who also has a residence life background. “We have athletes who come in from out of state. There’s individualized support needed for socioeconomic status. Maybe they are first generation college students figuring out the language of higher education, or they bounced around the foster system. I hear how they persevered.” 

Learner Mentors are available to both residential and commuter students, and there is no limit to how often they utilize the program. 

Addington notices relief and gratitude are the common threads among students who connect with their Learner Mentor. 

“RBC students come from different walks of life, yet they share the same anxieties; the transfer process is daunting,” Addington recounted. “There is peace of mind in that there is someone on campus who can put them on a pathway that is transparent. I know where I’m going and the classes I need to take, especially for the first year of college. It is heartening to see them leave, knowing we took care of their fears.” 

Hickson considers the Learner Mentor program a highlight of her time at RBC. The aspiring pediatrician recommends every RBC student tap into the resources offered. 

“It really boosts your confidence in your success during your time at RBC and after,” she said.

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