First Year Support Services

Texas Lutheran University has a comprehensive Early Academic Warning System to support all first year students. As a first year student at TLU, students also have three individuals who are assigned to help with student transition into college and work on academic plans. These individuals are student Academic Advisors, Faculty Mentors, and Peer Mentors.

Academic Advisor

All first year students will be assigned a faculty advisor who is normally chosen from the students’ major area of interest. Undecided students are assigned to a faculty advisor who will work with students to explore possible majors and career options.

Although full responsibility lies with the student, faculty advisors will assist in structuring a satisfactory course schedule each semester, and are available for general guidance and counseling. Students are encouraged to arrange a regular-schedule of meetings with their advisors throughout the semester.

Students who change their major or who find an advisor that better suit their needs can change in the spring semester of their freshman year.

Faculty Mentor

All first year students are required to take FE134: Exploring the Arts and Sciences. The FE 134 instructor serves as the student’s Faculty Mentor. Faculty Mentors are committed to working with first year students, assisting students in their transition into college, and providing general support to students as they learn their way around campus and campus resources.

All students are encouraged to get to know their Faculty Mentor, ask questions regarding academic progress, participation in extracurricular activities, and about campus resources. The Faculty Mentor will assist students through the first year in college, even after the designated first year course is completed.

Peer Mentor

Peer Mentors assist first year students during orientation and throughout the year with their personal and academic transition into the TLU community. Peer mentors facilitate orientation groups and plan orientation activities. They also attend the FE 134 class he/she is paired with and play an active role in class discussions. Peer mentors are expected to assist the Director of Campus Programs in providing out-of-class experiences that provide support and guidance on first-year issues.

Most of all, peer mentors serve as role models to new students.