The Archway program: a qualitative exploration of a support program for first-year University students during COVID-19

Objective: The purpose of this investigation was to understand the student-perspective impact of an institutional program to support first-year university students during COVID-19. Interviews were conducted with 37 university students nearing the completion of their first year of studies. Methods: Purposive sampling was conducted to interview students with varying degrees of engagement with the Archway program. Thematic analysis was conducted to better understand how Archway specifically supported students during the pandemic and to determine how the program could be improved and adapted to other contexts and schools. Results: Overall, four overarching themes were developed, revolving around the first-year experience, the mentorship program, community events, and barriers students experienced to participation. Conclusions: Implications for these findings may help to better understand first-year student experiences of virtual support mechanisms, which could help to inform strategic initiatives and programming among post-secondary institutions.