It seems as though each and every academic year on campus is unique unto itself — truly unlike any of the others.

The Freshmen year is one full of transition.  Everything is new and exciting.  The majority of students have moved away from home and are experiencing a number of new-found freedoms (and responsibilities — in theory) while living life on campus.

And most institutions have seen the variety of challenges that are associated with this first year on campus and have created positions, and designed programs, to better assist new students during this pivotal year.

At the other end of the college experience, during the Senior year, you again find lots of transition taking place.  In this instance, however, it is often the transition from academic life (which they have likely been experiencing for 17+ years at this point) to working life.  Part-time jobs, internships, living off-campus — in an apartment, where they cook many of their own meals… they are preparing for life after college.  And again, having seen some of the challenges associated with this transitional year, our institutions have created positions, and designed programs, to help graduating seniors be successful in their transition out into the “real world.”

The Junior year is marked by the rigor of “major-related” classes and taking on significant leadership roles on campus.

Often categorized as the one of the hardest academic years, the Junior year is when students are experiencing the breadth and the depth of what their major — and future work — entails. For many, this season will serve as a confirmation that they are indeed heading in the right direction.  For others, it will serve as a call to re-examine their chosen path and strongly consider a change of direction. Faculty and academic advisors seem to invest a great deal in students during this season.

Because seniors are often off-campus with internships, jobs and alternative living accommodations — juniors are left atop the totem pole when it comes to leadership opportunities.  With their significant leadership investment, juniors are often highly invested in by the overseers of the programs and ministries they lead out in.

But what about Sophomores?

The newness of college-life has worn off.  By their second year, students have likely landed in a group of friends that will serve as their core community for the remainder of their college years.  Academic life seems to be requiring a little bit more of them than it did during their freshmen year… and suddenly, the reality of what college is really all about starts to set in… and many of our sophomores aren’t quite sure what to do with that.  A fight or flight impulse surges through them… but neither seem quite right… or appropriate.

So our students often struggle… in silence.

With no positions, or programs, designed specifically to assist them through this difficult season of life… sophomores end up “holding on” — just trying to make it through the year… hoping that things will eventually get better.

But it shouldn’t be this way.

The sophomore year deserves special and intentional consideration as well.

If mid-spring seems like an odd time to post on Sophomores who struggle, and the need for intentional programming designed to help them through this challenging year on campus, you’re right — but I assure you there is a reason for it!

It was a year ago now that we began to look for someone to direct a new initiative on our campus — the Sophomore Transition Center.

After a lot of assessment we statistically confirmed much of what we already knew — namely, that our Sophomores were in need of significant attention… and I’m thankful that our institution was willing to create a position whose sole purpose is to think about how to better walk alongside Sophomores during their challenging second year on campus.

In the first year of its existence, our Sophomore Transition Center is still getting established, but it is also serving a number of Sophomores (and rising Sophomores) in a number of ways.

The Office of University Ministries has sought to be a partner in any and all ways possible with this new team and campus initiative — including hosting our first annual Career & Calling week that featured Dr. Steven Garber.

And while every campus and/or ministry won’t be able to hire someone to solely think about 2nd year students… I think we do need to find ways to more intentionally invest in this population on our campus.

SO…

For those of you who already offer something specific for sophomores… what advice would you give us as we continue to get established? What’s working for you?  What should we avoid?

For those of you who don’t have something like this on the campus you serve, what ways might you envision your ministry providing something unique for Sophomores?

Please take a moment to share your thoughts in the comment section below.