Mount Allison University’s Student Success Guides are launching a new First-Year Transition (FYT) Program designed to help incoming students feel informed, connected, and prepared before arriving on campus this fall. 

“The transition to university is often the first time students are managing so many aspects of their lives independently,” says Vice President, Student Affairs Dr. Nona Robinson. “This new chapter can feel both exciting and challenging. The First-Year Transition Program is intended to ease that change by helping students build familiarity with campus life, connect with supports early, and feel more prepared and included when they arrive at Mount Allison. We want students to begin their university experience feeling confident, supported, and ready to succeed inside and outside the classroom.” 

The MtA First-Year Transition Program will provide incoming students with access to a series of self-paced online modules through Moodle launching in early June. 

The program is being delivered by Mount Allison’s Student Success Guide team, Jacob McKiel, Kevinique Stubbs, and Manley Liu, in collaboration with campus departments and support services. 

Throughout the summer, students will receive access to weekly modules covering topics such as academic support, residence life, wellness resources, student employment, clubs and societies, financial aid, as well as preparing for Orientation Week in September. Each module will feature short videos introducing students to services, resources, and staff members across campus, along with additional written information for those who want to explore topics in more detail. 

The program aims to help students build familiarity with academic life before they arrive in Sackville while reducing the sense of overwhelm that can sometimes accompany the transition to university.  

Modules will also introduce students to supports and communities available at Mount Allison, including support for Indigenous students, Black students, and 2SLGBTQIA+ students, as well as Spiritual Care, Athletics, and the Meighen Centre. 

Weekly modules will include: 

• University welcome and information from the Registrar’s office 
• Student communities and supports, including international, Indigenous, Black, queer, and Meighen Centre communities 
• Living away from home, including on-campus and off-campus living 
• Community standards, conflict resolution, bystander information, and equity, diversity, and inclusion 
• Student wellness and Sexualized Violence Services and Education 
• Campus support services 
• Academic support and academic integrity 
• Student employment, careers, and study abroad opportunities 
• Library resources and classroom study tips 
• Clubs, societies, extracurricular opportunities, and athletics 
• Preparing for Orientation Week and getting to know the Town of Sackville 

The First-Year Transition Program will launch on Moodle in June. Stay tuned for more information on enrolling.  
 
Questions? Email successguides@mta.ca.