Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is welcoming its newest Cougars during the 2025 Summer Success Program (SSP), which runs through August 8.
“The five-week residential initiative is designed to help incoming first-year students make a smooth transition from high school to college,” said SSP Director Kelly Atkins, EdD.
The program includes time management and writing workshops, and service projects in the Metro East community. Faculty, staff, and peer mentors help students develop academic skills and a deeper understanding of their role as responsible and informed community members.
Assisting the newcomers were student leaders from SIUE’s Collegiate 100 and the Freedom School Program at the Southwestern Illinois Justice & Workforce Development Campus in Belleville. They helped with unloading cars, welcoming students, and offered advice from their own college experiences.
“Their support demonstrated SIUE’s inclusive and service-oriented culture, where students lift each other up and success is a collective effort,” said Atkins.
The program’s curriculum includes college-level courses, developmental workshops, and weekly reflections to promote self-awareness and intentional learning, all of which are rooted in the SIUE value of wisdom, as students begin shaping their personal and academic paths.
“As these first-year students begin their Cougar journey, the energy on campus is electric,” noted Atkins. “They are not only gaining a head start academically, but they are also forming lifelong friendships and learning what it means to be part of the SIUE family.”