Students help with FOE, too

When Pellissippi State student Cheryl Mastrolia was looking for a part-time job, she didn’t know she’d end up getting involved in the College’s Foundations of Excellence project.

Her efforts are part of the College’s ongoing Foundations of Excellence program. Pellissippi State was selected in June 2005 by the Policy Center on the First Year of College as one of 10 “Founding Institutions” to participate in the development of a national model for excellence in two-year colleges.

Mastrolia, who is pursuing an associate’s degree in computer networking, accepted an offer by a professor involved in FOE to become a student success mentor.

“Being a mentor has allowed me to help others,” said Mastrolia.

She has taken part in several projects since she began, including calling students who haven’t decided on a major to acquaint them with services the College offers to assist them in their choice.

She has also called students from New Student Orientation and helped organize student interviews for other FOE projects.

Mastrolia says she is one of four student success mentors on the Pellissippi Campus who have helped with FOE behind the scenes, and she knows firsthand the benefits to using student workers.

“Since we’re also students, we’re able to give a student’s perspective when we’re in FOE meetings about new initiatives.”

Also, student success mentors often get better responses from students than do instructors.

“Sometimes students are more likely to listen to their peers than to their professors,” she said.

Mastrolia plans to continue working as a student success mentor in the fall.

“I’ve really enjoyed the experience, and I feel good about what the College is trying to do to help students,” she said.

"Inside Pellissippi" is a bi-monthly electronic publication produced by the Marketing and Communications Office for the faculty and staff of Pellissippi State Technical Community College, 10915 Hardin Valley Road, P.O. Box 22990, Knoxville, Tennessee 37933-0990. All suggestions and comments should be sent to Julia Wood (jwood@pstcc.edu).

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