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This year, the Office of Student Life, working with partners across campus, will replace MyStart: Welcome and MyStart: Academic, the university’s two summer transition programs previously delivered in-person, with one program called MyStart.

MyStart will take place online through synchronous (real-time) and asynchronous (self-directed) delivery. The program will launch in early July through Canvas, the university’s new learning management system. It will offer faculty- and department-specific programming tailored to meet the transition needs of new ºÚÁÏÍø students, while also introducing them to the Canvas platform in a risk-free environment. Delivering transition programming this way will provide teams with increased capacity to integrate new interactive program components, provide access to mentoring and other individualized support, and conduct ongoing program assessment and improvement.

In early July, new first-year students will be encouraged to begin participating in MyStart. The program begins with an introduction to the Canvas platform to prepare new students to navigate the course. Program components will also include an introduction to the faculty, opportunities for students to meet and connect with their assigned peer leader, and an overview of campus supports and services, including information about how to access them.

Also new this year is the expanded delivery of the peer leader (mentor) program. All incoming first-year students will be matched with a trained, upper-year peer leader whom they will meet virtually as part of MyStart. These peer leaders will be available to support students throughout the summer and into the fall as they learn to navigate the university and the experience of being a post-secondary student.

MyStart will also include components designed help support the academic success of students transitioning from high school to university. The enhanced program content will include both asynchronous and synchronous delivery. Asynchronous learning will be delivered through self-directed learning modules where students can review concepts at their own pace. Each module will conclude with a quiz enabling students to identify their own strengths and areas of development that they can further explore through the synchronous, interactive workshops that will be offered at multiple times throughout the summer. 

This program includes a faculty-specific tailored mix of:

• active study strategies
• common assignments
• learning online
• managing university expectations
• math and chemistry review
• mindset and resilience strategies
• navigating the Campus Library and its resources and tools
• planning and time management
• writing and research skills

The Office of Student Life will continue to update the campus community in future Weekly Reports as details become available. For the most current information about MyStart programming, visit .