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March 31, 2007

College pairs students with mentors

From: Columbus Dispatch, OH - Mar 31, 2007

Nontraditional freshmen get help from upperclassmen

By Kelly Hassett
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio -- It wasn't confidence that Cyle Long needed.
By age 20, he had already raced motorcycles, taught sign language to his peers and earned a scholarship to Ohio University-Chillicothe.

Long, who is deaf, just needed a little help with translation.

He found what he needed in fellow student Jill Thompson and the college's new mentoring program, Emerging Scholars.

The program is designed to help smooth the freshman jitters of nontraditional students and people who are the first in their family to go to college. These students are paired with upperclassmen such as Thompson, 50, who is a senior.

Thompson has a son close to Cyle's age who is deaf.

"I've been signing for 20 years, so I can tell when he's starting to get lost," Thompson said about Long. "I can just look at him out of the corner of my eye and tell."

Thompson goes to class with Long, taking notes and signing for him if he needs something explained. Long has a cochlear implant, which allows him to hear what's going on. But English is technically his second language because he learned sign language first, and he didn't get the implant until he was in the sixth grade.

"If there are some words I don't understand, she helps me with different things," Long said.

The pilot program started this past winter. Thompson and Long's pairing is one of about 10 formed under the program.

"There's a real need to have people who can help particularly nontraditional and first-generation students," said Ann Rumble, faculty supervisor and assistant psychology professor. "I think colleges and universities can be intimidating. Students don't always want to approach us."

The average age for students at OU-Chillicothe is 29, according to the admissions office. Students who are interested in mentoring can offer their time and are recommended by faculty or staff members.

"We face a lot of issues with people who are pretty apprehensive with the education system to begin with," said graduate assistant Joe Barker. "They don't know what to expect."

Long graduated from the Paint Valley school district and had interpreting help through his learning plan for special-needs students. But he quickly learned, as many students do, that there's far less structure in college.

The university provides assistance for disabled students, but Long was having difficulty finding one person to both take notes and interpret. He couldn't split his attention among three people -- those two and the professor -- so Thompson stepped in.

The two bonded immediately. "It's a real strong feeling of satisfaction, seeing him get more independent," said Thompson, who will graduate with a degree in psychology this spring and start her master's in education in the fall. "He's great."

They hang out after class to make sure Long is clear on everything he needs, but also just to chat. They also have a common professional goal: They both want to use their degrees to help advocate for the deaf. Long knew he wanted to teach sign language in high schools since he witnessed his cousin, who also is deaf, being teased in school.

"I don't want deaf people to feel like they're all alone," Long said.

Barker and Thompson have noticed a change in Long in the past few months. He's grown more comfortable and more assertive, and he isn't as afraid to ask questions or seek help.

"The longer I go, the better I'll get," Long said.

khassett@dispatch.com

©2007, The Columbus Dispatch