Advisers & Mentors

First-year advisers and mentors work collaboratively to support the academic experience of first-year students, connecting students to the resources and opportunities of the College. In addition to helping students navigate curricular requirements and begin the process of selecting a major, they ensure that students are integrating well into community life.

At a liberal arts college like Trinity, academic advising is itself a vital form of teaching and learning. This is why the first-year seminar professor also serves as the student’s principal academic adviser until a major is declared (no later than March 30 of the sophomore year). The advantage of having the adviser know the student in the classroom is substantial. As a student’s academic interests unfold, advisers also connect students with relevant colleagues and opportunities across campus.

First-year advisers and mentors should consult Trinity’s Center for Academic Advising website for a full array of resources, as well as review the Academic Advising Primer.

First-Year Mentors

Each seminar instructor selects an outstanding member of the junior or senior class to serve as mentor. Mentors must show evidence of high academic achievement; strong written and verbal communication skills; and competence in research and problem solving. They should also be well integrated into the Trinity College community, poised to support a diverse group of first-year students. Each mentor serves as a role model to first-year students in the seminars, positioned well to provide support both academically and socio-emotionally as they adjust to life as a college student.

In addition to working with individual seminars, First-Year Mentors join a community of other mentors, led by the First-Year Mentor Coordinator, who meets regularly with the group throughout the fall semester. First-Year Mentors also attend training workshops in May and August. The Mentor Coordinator is Leo Schuchert.

Registration Information: Mentors will be registered in the fall for one course credit, which is graded largely by the seminar instructor. On the transcript, this is listed as “Academic Mentorship.”