A Case Study on the University Freshman Adaptation Program Using an Online Mentoring Program during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

This study is a case study that presents the results of developing and operating online mentoring programs to more effectively help freshmen adapt to college life amid the spread of COVID-19. Mentoring has traditionally been recognized as a program that contributes to individual academic ability and psycho-social growth. Against this background, the results of developing and operating online mentoring programs for 1,654 freshmen were presented as examples. As a result of the operation of this mentoring program, the latter helped freshmen solve some of the challenges they faced, not only from having to change their academic environment, but from having to form new relationships as well. Senior mentoring also confirmed that such a program is able to reduce the social gap felt by freshmen regarding their campus life during the COVID-19 situation by motivating them to study more, and by encouraging them to form senior-junior IRL (in real life) relationships. This study is significant in that it presents specific examples and techniques to improve the performance of online mentoring programs. Also, in order to effectively operate online mentoring programs, we proposed to systematically implement the selection and training of mentors, to structure mentoring activities, to monitor the program through a communication system, and to engage in performance sharing.