Fall Semester

Orientation Reception - All eligible students are invited to an informational reception where they have the opportunity to either accept or decline enrollment in the WellsLink Leadership Program. Enrollment does NOT guarantee membership. After six weeks, students who have met the preliminary expectations of the program, such as meeting with their assigned peer leaders, making appointments with their WellsLink Academic Consultant, and attending the Sunday Foundation Seminar, will then secure their membership.

Sunday Foundation Seminar - Each session addresses key elements for socially and academically transitioning to the first-year of college life. Topics include goal setting, stress management, time management, advanced study skills, and professional etiquette tips for communicating (verbally, non-verbally, written, and cyber) with professors, recruiters, employers, and other people in positions of influence.

Peer Leaders - All students are assigned to a peer leader, a successful graduate of the WellsLink Leadership Program who assists them transition to the collegiate experience. Peer leaders ensure that participants are socially acclimated to Syracuse University through informal meetings scheduled through the duration of the program. Peer leaders introduce their peers to campus resources, activities, and answer questions about academic expectations and other nuanced aspects of college life. Peer leaders are dedicated, charismatic, and academically successful individuals who are active members of the community. They offer guidance from a student's perspective, drawing on their own experiences and learned lessons to assist their peers in successfully completing their first-year and confidently entering the second.

Academic Consultations - Students meet with a WellsLink Academic Consultant at three intervals each semester: the first month of the semester, before midterm exams, and before final exams. WellsLink Academic Consultants do NOT replace the academic advisors assigned by their college. Instead, they get to know each student and their wide range of life goals, fears, talents, and areas for personal improvement. Together, the student and the consultant develop personalized action plans to improve the student's time management skills, reduce stress, study effectively for each class, stay accountable for achieving goals, and begin nurturing mentoring relationships with influential people on campus.

Transitions Ceremony - This is a formal ceremony honoring WellsLink Scholars from the previous year who have successfully transitioned to their second-year at Syracuse University. Academic Achievement Awards and Leadership Capital Certificates are presented. Transitioning students receive stoles to symbolize their achievement. Nationally/globally recognized people are invited to speak at this event.

Sponsored Tutoring - Students are fully sponsored for tutoring services.

Community Building Activities - The WellsLink staff facilitate various activities throughout the year to build a greater sense of community. Past events included homemade ethnic dinners at the academic consultants' homes, study break game nights, and ice skating outings.

Motivational Reception - The entire WellsLink cohort attends a formal dinner with a keynote address by Barry L. Wells, for whom the program is named. Peer leaders also present special motivational kits to each of their peers, encouraging them as they begin preparing for finals week.

Spring Semester

Welcome Back Reception - Students are warmly welcomed back to campus at this dessert reception. They learn about the unique opportunities and common challenges that they can expect going into the second semester. In addition, they will learn about how well their cohort performed academically and what individuals can do to maintain their success or if they did not do as well, what they can do differently to achieve their goals.

Academic Improvement Plan - Students who achieved less than a 2.8 GPA in the fall semester are strongly encouraged to develop an Academic Improvement Plan with their consultants. These are more specialized and frequent advising sessions for students who require more guided assistance in meeting their academic goals.

Leadership Capital Series - These are an exclusive series of workshops open only to WellsLink students and alumni. These workshops cover a wide range of topics aimed at building the social capital necessary to remain competitive in college and beyond. Students who complete 8 workshops receive a Leadership Capital Certificate from the Center for Career Services at the Transitions Ceremony. **NOTE: No other program on campus offers these workshops or certification by the Center for Career Services.