Set Up to Succeed 

ELASP connects new Bauer College students with peer mentors during their first semester to help them engage and become immersed in the campus community. While the program is a starting point for participants starting their college journey, Program Manager for Student Experience Dell Ivy said it’s equally character-building for students who serve as mentors. 

“Those students have full circle moments each and every time we do an event,” Ivy said. “Each semester, I change something with the program. The mentors see how they can actually be innovators within the program, and navigate better serving students who are participating.” 

Marketing junior Jason Parker was in ELASP in Spring 2025 prior to becoming a mentor this semester. His positive experience in the program is what made him want to be a mentor. Parker said he’s seen personal and academic growth in his mentees and encourages future Bauer students to sign up for the program. 

“Considering that I was a transfer student once, I know it is hard transitioning into a university where you don't have a lot of connections with people,” Parker said. “If there's a program out there that will give you a warm welcome and help you have a great time at a new location, then everybody should be a part of it.” 

ELASP mentor Gauraangi Gupta and mentee Abdiel Sandoval-Hidalgo said throughout the course of the semester they learned a lot from each other. At this fall’s end of year celebration, the two reflected on the commonalities they found as they got to know each other.  

“It was definitely nerve-wracking coming here from another city and transferring from a smaller school,” Sandoval-Hidalgo said. “I was inspired after learning about my mentor's history and how she adapted to moving to Houston and becoming a Bauer student. I was able to seek out other opportunities that I wanted for myself and learned about so many new people.” 

“There are a lot of people who have similar experiences to me, even if not all of them are international students,” Gupta said. “Shifting from a smaller school to a bigger school is stressful — just like how it was for me.” 

She added: “It just helped me develop a lot of my leadership skills because I could communicate well with them. I could use the experiences that I went through to help them adapt to those things as well.” 

ELASP’s goal is for students to leave the program equipped to handle their academic and professional goals.