R.I.S.E. Network

The R.I.S.E. Network (Reach, Inspire, Succeed, Empower) is a multicultural program designed to provide students with individualized mentorship and guidance. With an emphasis on reaching first-year students who may need help adjusting to the academic and social demands of college, the R.I.S.E. Network promotes leadership skills, goal setting, financial literacy, character-building and career skills. Our approach is student-centered, focusing on the unique needs of each Network Scholar through mentoring relationships with peer mentors.

R.I.S.E. Mentor Application

Students will be paired with network leaders who are passionate about bridging the gap that often exists within the first year of college. In this program, students will build strong relationships with their mentor, gain networking opportunities, get connected to valuable resources, and cultivate a set of skills needed for successful St. John’s University experience.

Each mentorship pairing is selected intentionally to help each of the programs’ participants succeed. Students will engage in one-on-one conversations, large group outings and socials with their mentor and other mentee-mentor pairings. This program is your ticket to building community and getting connected to what’s happening within our campus community and beyond.

Five Pillars of Rise

Academic Success
Career Preparation
Connectivity
Personal Enrichment
Spiritual Enrichment

Program Benefits

Learn new skills from an experienced, high-achieving student leader
Network with influential faculty, administrators, and alumni to assist with career preparation
Participate in engaging and empowering workshops geared toward academic and personal goals
Gain access to the R.I.S.E. Network study room and library of first-year textbooks

The Net

The R.I.S.E. Network is unique in that it offers a professional network, known as The Net, which includes a group of key administrators, faculty, and staff who assist scholars with academic concerns and questions.

Scholars (Mentees)

First-year students who are interested in becoming scholars need to complete an online R.I.S.E. Network Scholar Application and maintain a level of personal commitment to the program, which includes active participation in workshops, study sessions, social events, and Network Leader meetings.

Network Leaders (Mentors)

Network Leaders are primarily upperclassmen who have an interest in leadership and a passion to help incoming students navigate the college experience. This is accomplished through leadership development, informal advisement, group meetings, and a consistent use of resources and programs at St. John’s University. Recruitment of Network Leaders begins in October for the following academic year. Contact the Office of Student Development for more information.

Network Leaders

Build a student’s character development by encouraging work ethic, trustworthiness, kindness, responsibility, etc.
Assist with homework assignments and research papers, and improve academic skills
Participate in activities of interest to the scholar
Help set career goals and develop resumes
Develop critical problem-solving skills
Encourage social development

About the R.I.S.E. Network

The R.I.S.E. Network (Reach, Inspire, Succeed, Empower) began as an initiative under Student Development and the Division of Student Affairs. The goal was to create an environment where successful, high potential students come together to assist in increasing the retention and graduation rates of our Black and Latinx students at St. John's University. The program has grown from 54 scholars (freshmen mentees) in our first cohort back in 2013 to now receiving nearly 300 or more applications from scholars.

This program is grounded in the belief that mentoring is a valuable strategy to provide students with the emotional and instrumental support students need to achieve the goal of a college degree. By providing information, guidance, and encouragement, mentors can play an important role in nurturing students’ college aspirations, connecting them to campus resources and, advising them on how to make successful transitions from high school to their first year on campus (Levine and Nidiffer 1996).

Participants, better known as R.I.S.E. scholars, are part of a network that will assist in their academic success and personal and professional development. The network will focus on the successful completion of their first year by assisting with academics, career preparation, spiritual development, and social integration by establishing connections with the relevant support services at St. John's University.

Our goal remains to ensure that scholars are intentionally connected to people, services, and organizations to support their development and also empower them to be an integral part of the St. John's University community.