New Student Pre-Orientation

Sponsored by the Division of Student Life, Coordinated by the First Gen Network in collaboration with the Office of Community and Belonging, the Fearless First Academy is a pre-orientation program for first generation and/ or low-income students designed to give incoming new students and their families early opportunities to become acclimated to Mount Holyoke College and create a sense of community by providing students with:

  • Skills and tools necessary to navigate MHC New Student Orientation.
  • Connections with other incoming new students who have journeyed similar pathways to college.
  • Opportunities to participate in community-building activities and workshops designed to help students thrive academically and personally at MHC.
  • An understanding of the hidden curriculum of higher education and how you can academically thrive in the Mount Holyoke College community.
  • Knowledge about MHC's many on-campus resources and how to navigate them.
  • Opportunities to explore and learn more about the many resources in the surrounding community that support first generation, low-income, and students from the global majority.

Most sessions will be live-virtual sessions. Most live sessions will be recorded and available for viewing on Moodle.

Part II, Pre-Academy:

June 18 and July 8 - August 21

See schedule below

Part II, Academy On Campus :

August 27- September 1

Schedule will be posted in July

Look for the Fearless First Academy logo

Resources:

Moodle

Part II, Pre-Academy Schedule

Session dates subject to change. Zoom links will be added once sessions are confirmed.

Sessions will be every Monday, Tuesday, and/ or Wednesdays starting 6:30 pm.

To register for, access and/ or view sessions you missed please use our Moodle on-line course platform linked here.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact a member of the First Generation Network.

Week 1 : July 8 - 14

Tuesday, July 9, 6:30 PM EST

Welcome To MHC And An Introduction to the First Gen Network Recorded Video. View on the Moodle course site.

Wednesday, July 10, 6:30 PM EST

Drop -in Hours With Ahmaya Graves-Young, Fearless First Fellow,'26. Students will have the opportunity in an informal setting to meet with the current Fearless First Fellow, a rising junior. This meeting will allow students to ask questions, express any needs for support, and learn more about what to expect during the academy!  Register here.

Week 2: July 15 - 21

Monday, July 15, 6:30 PM EST

Introduction to the MHC Fearless First Academy with Latrina Denson, Associate Dean of Students. Register here.

Tuesday, July 18, 6:30 PM EST

Drop -in Hours With Ahmaya Graves-Young, Fearless First Fellow,'26. Students will have the opportunity in an informal setting to meet with the current Fearless First Fellow, a rising junior. This meeting will allow students to ask questions, express any needs for support, and learn more about what to expect during the academy! Register here.

Wednesday, July 19, 6:30 PM EST

Grace and Space - Developing Healthy Relationships On Social Media (Recorded session). Engaging with a new community can be both exciting and overwhelming; especially if you are meeting others around the world for the first time on social media. During this session, we provide tips on how to communicate with your new MoHome community via social media and how to continue those conversations and friendships while on campus. Register here.

Week 3: July 22 - 28

Tuesday, July 23, 6:30 PM EST

Financial Aid and Work Study Session (Recorded session). Wondering how to navigate the financial aid, loan, billing, and work study process? You are not alone! Join this session with the Executive Director of Student Financial Services to learn what your aid package means, how the loans will work, what work study is, and how the health insurance works. We will also review the billing portal, setting up authorized users, options to pay the bill, and what you can expect in future years. Bring any questions you may have, or submit them ahead of time to tkreutter@mtholyoke.edu for anonymity. Register here.

Wednesday, July 24, 6:30 PM EST

Drop -in Hours With Ahmaya Graves-Young, Fearless First Fellow,'26. Students will have the opportunity in an informal setting to meet with the current Fearless First Fellow, a rising junior. This meeting will allow students to ask questions, express any needs for support, and learn more about what to expect during the academy! Register here.

Week 4: July 29 - August 4

Tuesday, July 30, 6:30 PM EST

Drop -in Hours With Ahmaya Graves-Young, Fearless First Fellow,'26. Students will have the opportunity in an informal setting to meet with the current Fearless First Fellow, a rising junior. This meeting will allow students to ask questions, express any needs for support, and learn more about what to expect during the academy! Register here.

Wednesday, July 31, 6:30 PM EST

Communication Skills (Recorded session). Kim Parent, Associate Dean of Studies and Academic Dean for New Students, Ahmaya Graves-Young, Iris Carpio Lecturer of Physical Education and Head Volleyball Coach. Register here.

Week 5: August 5 - 11

Monday, August 5, 6:30 PM EST

Mock First Year Seminar Class: Understanding Childhood. First Year seminar courses are required for all first year new students at MHC. This mock class will give students the opportunity to experience a seminar course. Join Professor Jennifer Jacoby for a discussion on how the ecological model provides one perspective of human development. Register here.

Tuesday, August 6, 6:30 PM EST

Tips and Advice From Current Students and Recent Alums on How to Navigate MHC as FGLI Student (Recorded session). During this session, students will meet current FGLI students and recent alums learn more about thriving as an FGLI student and the different resources available to them on-campus. Register here.

Wednesday, August 7, 6:30 PM EST

Drop -in Hours With Ahmaya Graves-Young, Fearless First Fellow,'26. Students will have the opportunity in an informal setting to meet with the current Fearless First Fellow, a rising junior. This meeting will allow students to ask questions, express any needs for support, and learn more about what to expect during the academy! Register here.

Week 6: August 12 - 18

Tuesday, August 13, 6:30 PM EST

LITSen Up!: What You Should Know About Library, Information, and Technology Services. In this interactive session, students will learn about LITS (Library, Information, and Technology Services), the college’s all-in-one support system for your research, campus tech, accessing materials and resources, effectively navigating the world of information, and more! Register here.

Wednesday, August 14, 6:30 PM EST

Drop -in Hours With Ahmaya Graves-Young, Fearless First Fellow,'26. Students will have the opportunity in an informal setting to meet with the current Fearless First Fellow, a rising junior. This meeting will allow students to ask questions, express any needs for support, and learn more about what to expect during the academy! Register here.

Thursday, August 15, 6:30 PM EST

Preparing for Classes (Recorded session). During this session, students will learn about time management including efficient use of Google calendar and email, what to expect from different types of courses, how to recognize and use their learning style, tips for note-taking, and how to utilize LITS as an important resource on campus. Register here.

Week 7- August 19 - 25

Monday, August 19, 6:30 PM EST

Learning More About The MHC Community, College Lingo, Concepts, and Cultural Norms. Register here.

Tuesday, August 20 , 6:30 PM EST

Tips to Prepare for New Student Orientation and Move-In, and more about the MoHome Experience! (Recorded session). During this session, students will learn more about New Student Orientation and the move-in process, and what it means to be engaged as a new student during the first few weeks at MHC, by engaging in an interactive discussion with staff from Student Engagement who oversee New Student Orientation and Residence Halls and move-in, and Community and Belonging staff who coordinates the Fearless First Academy, and the Fearless First Student Fellow. Register here.

Wednesday, August 14, 6:30 PM EST

Final Drop -in Hours With Ahmaya Graves-Young, Fearless First Fellow,'26. Students will have the opportunity in an informal setting to meet with the current Fearless First Fellow, a rising junior. This meeting will allow students to ask questions, express any needs for support, and learn more about what to expect during the academy! Register here.

Thursday, August 15, 6:30 PM EST

Preparing for Classes (Recorded session). During this session, students will learn about time management including efficient use of Google calendar and email, what to expect from different types of courses, how to recognize and use their learning style, tips for note-taking, and how to utilize LITS as an important resource on campus. Register here.