The following resources will be helpful for planning alongside your Mentor how your First-Year Interest Group (FIG), Transfer-Year Interest Group (TrIG), or First-Year Connection will operate, and the FIG and TrIG requirements being messaged on this site are as relevant to FIG and TrIG Facilitators as they are to peer mentors.
As a reminder, in order to qualify as a First-Year Connection, your class, group, or program must meet regularly in small groups, involve both a peer mentor and a staff facilitator, have an overarching academic topic or curriculum, and incorporate the five shared experiences:
- Connect with Faculty
- Live as a Longhorn (Integrity/Honor Code, UT pride, BeVocal, University Health Services and Health Promotion Resources, volunteer and service-learning, campus safety and security)
- Learn as a Longhorn (academic wellness: study skills and time management, library resources)
- Find Your Path (explore academic interests and career opportunities)
In addition to the information, requirements, resources, and best practices for FIGs and TrIGs on this website, more facilitator-specific information can also be found in the following places:
- First-Year Connections Facilitator Training Canvas site, which includes:
- Expectations of a First-Year Connection, FIG, or TrIG facilitator
- Recordings of previous training
- Examples of how to fulfill the shared experiences requirement
- Links and tutorials on helpful Zoom features
- An ongoing professional development calendar
- First-Year Connections website