UFV Connection Groups is a mentorship program that helps students navigate UFV, learn skills, and get connected with fellow students. It is geared toward first- and second-year students — those who have not been on campus before Fall 2021 — and looks at a holistic approach to wellness.
UFV Connection Groups are organized through the Peer Resource and Leadership Centre (PRLC). PRLC Coordinator Ashley Ward-Hall explained that the program was inspired by a student-run Facebook group called “UFV Student Connection,” which was created during the pandemic for students to ask questions about courses, share resources, and get connected with fellow students during the online semesters. Student Life, recognizing that need for connection, decided to offer a program that emulated what was happening on Facebook.
UFV Connection Groups meet weekly with students, two peer leaders, and PRLC Student Assistant Billie Brown. Meetings cover topics that range from time management skills to physical health. While each meeting looks somewhat different, they might include discussions, a PowerPoint presentation, and “assignments” for students to practice what they’ve learned. Their approach is a hands-on, practical one.
“[For] our mental health wellness one,” Brown explained, “we had a whole class on tips and tricks [on] mindfulness and identifying your stressors, and then the next week we had a yoga class in the classroom. So, it does always look different, which I really like.”
Despite their efforts to get the word out, however, student commitment has been extremely low. Busy or conflicting schedules, fewer people on campus, and general pandemic fatigue are potential reasons why engagement has been lacking.
When asked if the student response would look different if the program had occurred before COVID-19, the answer was an emphatic yes.
“More humans, less global trauma,” Ward-Hall said simply.
“There [are] so many unknowns right now,” she said, “and so we try our best to serve and support as many students as we can, but it’s a challenge for sure.”
UFV Connection Groups will continue next semester. However, the PRLC hopes to adjust the program to meet student’s capacities. Instead of cohort-based groups, they would provide drop-in, workshop-style meetings. One meeting might feature mental health, while another looks at finances. They hope the “no commitment” approach will attract more students.
Ward-Hall anticipates they will start the program again in mid-January, to allow students to organize their schedules and get into the rhythm of school. Students who are interested in joining can fill out the UFV Connection Groups form online, or find program details on the PLRC section of the UFV website.
“Having been a student at UFV,” Ward-Hall said, “getting involved in literally anything on campus can’t be measured [in] how valuable [it] is. It’s just good for people to get involved. It’ll make the university experience that much better.”
Image: UFV Connection Group
Danaye studies English and procrastination at UFV and is very passionate about the Oxford comma. She spends her days walking to campus from the free parking zones, writing novels she'll never finish, and pretending to know how to pronounce abominable. Once she graduates, she plans to adopt a cat.
