Photo courtesy of Erin Kline Students and mentors in the Mustang Pathway Program at SMSU posed for a group photo this summer. This year a cohort of 14 students completed the residential program, which helps prepare first-year students to transition to college. Students included Will Aasen, Robert Benavides, Diana Castillo, Luiz Guzman Melendez (not pictured), Dawson Kesteloot, Amarion Mesheck, Michael Parks, Christopher Razeeq, Tyra Reed, Simeon Roberts, Dallas Rogers, Aaron Thomas, Lamarr Webb and Mckinley Williams. Also pictured are mentors Karlina Nelson, Blake Allen, Hap Krosschell, Junior Kandolo and Savannah Stafford, and program director Erin Kline.

MARSHALL — The start of college can be a challenging time, especially for students who may not have had access to college prep programs. However, a group of first-year students at Southwest Minnesota State University have been working together to help make their transition to SMSU a success.

“It was a great experience. They showed us the ropes,” said Christopher Razeeq, one of the students who completed SMSU’s Mustang Pathway Program this summer.

This summer, a cohort of 14 students from across the country took part in Mustang Pathway, a summer residential program at SMSU. The students moved to campus in July, and participated in classes to strengthen their reading, writing and study skills.

“Mustang Pathway also gives them a chance to get to know the Marshall and campus community, provides extra time to ease into college life without a lot of distraction, develop meaningful relationships, and get a lot of support from our peer mentors and staff,” said program director Dr. Erin Kline.

Mustang Pathway students came to SMSU from Minnesota, as well as from as far away as California, Nevada, Florida and North Carolina, Kline said.

“They’re a lot of fun to work with, and they bring with them so many experiences,” she said.

The Mustang Pathway program was established in 2020, Kline said. Enrollment in the program took a hit during the COVID pandemic, but it is growing. ”

This year, we’ve doubled our numbers,” she said.

Their classes ran from July 18 to Aug. 12. Kline said a typical day for Mustang Pathway included both classroom and discussion time, as well as regular study sessions and a chance to work with student mentors.

All of this year’s Mustang Pathway cohort successfully completed the program, Kline said. Sudents started regular fall semester classes at SMSU this week.

The Mustang Pathway Program is an important opportunity for students, Kline said. She said the students faced challenges in getting to college, whether it was because of their grades or other factors.

“They didn’t have an easy road,” Kline said. But at the same time, the students were willing to do whatever it took to be successful in life, she said.

Razeeq said Mustang Pathway was “like a second chance” for him.

“They progressed me in my life,” he said. Now, he wants to study kinesiology.

Razeeq said working with Kline in the Mustang Pathway program made a difference for him.

“She was there for me every step of the way,” he said. “She really cared about my future.”

Student mentors are another important part of Mustang Pathway. Mentors are able to help MPP students with questions about their classwork, as well as to help them learn what to expect at college, and to be there for them, said mentor Karlina Nelson.

Nelson, a junior at SMSU, said she’s enjoyed getting to know the Mustang Pathway students and working with them.

“I like building connections, and helping incoming students build their connections,” Nelson said. “I also think it’s a great opportunity for the students.”

The summer program may be over, but Mustang Pathway students will still meet to study and check in with program staff this fall, Razeeq said.

“We’re all really close to this day,” he said.

The Mustang Pathway Program supports the Minnesota State system of colleges and universities’ 2030 goal to eliminate educational equity gaps, SMSU spokespeople said. Mustang Pathway allows more students to get a degree at SMSU, by giving them the tools they need to transition to college and graduate.

High school students interested in participating in the 2023 Mustang Pathway Program should contact Dr. Erin Kline at erin.kline@smsu.edu. More information about the Mustang Pathway program is available online at www.smsu.edu/go/mustangpathway.