Loyola Mentorship Program Keeps 89% of First-Year Students

When Jose Aguilera arrived at Loyola University Chicago from Texas, he felt like he didn't belong. As a first-generation college student, he watched other freshmen confidently navigate campus while he struggled with anxiety and feeling lost.

Then Aguilera discovered STARS (Students Together Are Reaching Success), a mentoring program that pairs first-year students with peer mentors who guide them through their college transition. The impact was immediate.

"I found a sense of belonging, mainly because of the connections I made right away," Aguilera says. "Being surrounded with people with similar backgrounds made me feel like I was at home, and my mentor was a business major like me, so that helped me academically."

The program isn't just making students feel welcome. It's keeping them in school.

STARS retained 89% of participating first-year students last year. An impressive 97% of students in the Center for Student Inclusion and Belonging mentorship programs wanted to continue their relationships beyond the initial pairing.

"The support isn't just, 'Hey, how are you doing?'" says Cory Barnes, director of unity and belonging at CSIB. "It's what's going on academically? How can I connect you with tutors? If a student is dealing with food insecurity or housing insecurity, the mentors won't just point them to an office, they'll take them there."

The approach reflects Loyola's Jesuit values of seeing dignity in every person. Keith Champagne, vice president for student development, says the university has a demonstrated commitment from leadership to ensure students feel they belong around the clock.

The Ripple Effect

Research backs up what Loyola is seeing on campus. A 2020 study found that a sense of belonging at four-year colleges improves student persistence and mental health. The Student Experience Project discovered that classrooms fostering belonging see improved outcomes across the board.

Astrid Beltrán, assistant vice president for diversity and student engagement, says creating belonging starts with empathy. "Belonging means someone going into a space and feeling, 'Wow, you thought of me,'" she explains. "That is different for every person, so when we develop our programs we ask if we've given thought to all of our students, not just the majority."

For Aguilera, that thoughtful approach made all the difference between dropping out and thriving.