Jacket Link is a retention program designed to assist first year students of color in navigating their initial year of college by utilizing existing programs. The two primary goals of the program are to:
(1) Increase retention of students of color between the freshman and sophomore year and,
(2) Improve overall satisfaction of first year students of color with their initial year college experience.
Components of the Program include leadership, education, and peer mentoring.
Each Fall students participate in a leadership retreat. Past workshop topics have included: Creating a Network, Having a Strategy for Success, Being Your Own Best Advocate, and Presenting Yourself as a Leader. During the retreat participants are afforded the opportunity to dialog with B-W faculty and staff along with upper-class students.
Regularly scheduled workshops are provided throughout the academic year. Workshop topics include academic, social, and vocational issues.
Upper-class student leaders of color are assigned one to two mentees. The goal of the mentor is to assist the student in making out-of-class linkages. Peer mentors will the new students to participate in campus events and activities at least twice a month. In addition, they email their mentees weekly in an effort to simply check in with them and remind them that they are available if they need help or support.
For more information feel free to contact Dutchess Jones at drjones@bw.edu or 440-826-8520.
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275 Eastland Rd.