Great Start

Get your first year at the University of Montevallo
off to a Great Start!

Students with backpacks walking through UM campus sidewalk

Transitioning from high school to college is exciting. Meeting new friends and experiencing college life is thrilling, but not knowing what to expect from college-level classes and college life can be a little stressful. The Great Start Program is here to help!

The Great Start Program (GSP) is a supportive, alternative-admission program designed to help first-year University of Montevallo students successfully transition from high school to college, build a strong academic foundation, and unlock their full potential at UM. The main feature of this program is SUPPORT – academic, emotional, and social.

Below are the different resources and opportunities Great Start has to offer.

Great Start Peer Mentors

Great Start (GS) students are matched with a mentor, a student who understands what it is like to be a first-year student. Through monthly small groups and one-on-one meetings, peer mentors discuss topics such as getting to know their professors, managing college stress, and getting plugged into campus life. They also help GS students develop friendship and connection within the group.

Great Start Program Coordinator

Julean Website Pic Julean Kirkpatrick has been the Program Coordinator of the Great Start Program at UM since 2021. She works with first-year students to successfully transition to college life providing encouragement, mentoring, and resources to help them grow in confidence. She also organizes workshops and events to empower students to succeed academically, socially, and personally.

Julean earned her Bachelor’s in Counseling Foundations from Samford University and Master’s in Counseling – Marriage and Family from Liberty University. She loves helping students reach their potential and uses her education and experience to connect with them personally and provide guidance that fits their unique needs.

Beyond her work at Montevallo, Julean facilitates small groups for parents and teens as they plan for life beyond high school. She is also a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and values being part of organizations that empower and uplift others.

One-on-One Academic Coaching

GSP participants will receive ongoing emotional support, one-on-one assistance on how to balance the demands of academics and college life and create an academic plan of success. Topics discussed in academic coaching will include:

Time management
Improving studying skills
Test-taking strategies
Accessing campus resources

Student Success Workshops

The Great Start Program offers a variety of fun and interactive workshops throughout the year to assist participants in being successful inside and outside the classroom. Some of the workshops include:

Study Skills and Time Management Hacks
Cash for College with the Student Aid Office
It’s Real: College Students and Mental Health
Stop Procrastinating and Get It Done!
Recognizing Healthy vs. Unhealthy Relationships
Preparing for Mid-terms and Final Exams

Great Start Events

College is more than academics; college is also fun! GSP students are encouraged to attend events and outings. Attending events and outings provide opportunities for GSP students to connect, have fun, and make lasting friendships. Some events include GSP Class Tours and Pizza Party, game nights, College Night Experience, First Generation Week honoring amazing first-generation UM college students, and other events.

Requirements for Great Start Program Participants

Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA).
Schedule a meeting with the Great Start Program Coordinator for a detailed overview of the Great Start Program, to review any remaining admission requirements, and for the opportunity to ask questions or share concerns, then within the first three weeks of classes, meet to create a semester success plan and personal pathway to success.
Attend New Student Orientation.
Register for 12-16 credit hours in the upcoming semester, including UM 101 (First-Year Seminar), ENG 101 (Composition I), and two to three other courses to reach 12-16 credit hours.
Attend the mandatory welcome mixer event to meet other Great Start students.
Attend at least three (3) designated Student Success Workshops and at least two (2) events throughout the academic year offered by guest speakers and campus partners.
Achieve a 2.0 or higher GPA at the end of your first semester.
Schedule bi-weekly appointments with the Great Start Program Coordinator if you are experiencing any academic problems or issues (i.e., difficulty keeping up in class, low grades or test scores, missing assignments, poor class attendance, academic warning, etc.). Students should not be afraid to ask for help.

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What Great Start students are saying about the program:

“I love it. I feel free to communicate with Ms. Julean to discuss school and/or personal things that affect my schooling, and I know I will leave feeling confident in my ability to succeed after.”

“Great Start is the reason I’ve been able to see as much success as I have. Without it, I wouldn’t have been able to begin my higher education at the University of Montevallo in fall 2019. Thanks to the Great Start Program, I have had the opportunity to receive multiple awards and honors, network with faculty and peers and managed to become the president of the SGA here at UM. Without the Great Start Program, none of this would have been possible. I am thankful and will remain thankful as I continue to my educational journey into law school.”

“I love this program. I don’t think I would have been as prepared for college if I wasn’t a part of the GSP.”

“Love it! I feel very calm during the meetings, and I can talk about where I’m struggling and get positive feedback without being berated.”

“I think it’s very helpful and I don’t know how I would have stayed in college without it and the support I have. I’m thankful for such kind and caring people to be in my corner.”

“My own experience with Great Start is invaluable. The guidance and support I received as a new student were instrumental in my successful transition to university life. The program provided me with not only academic resources, but also a sense of community and belonging, which was crucial during my initial adjustment period. I learned how to navigate campus resources, connect with faculty, and build a strong foundation for my academic career.”

“Absolutely love the program. I feel so confident in myself going into my second year. “

“Ms. Julean is great! She really supported me throughout my first year. She helped me with time management and I’m forever grateful for that.”

“Without this program I wouldn’t be anywhere as confident and ready for the future, nor would I have succeeded as well as I had this semester. I will be forever grateful to the Great Start staff for all their help.”

Get your first year at the University of Montevallo off to a Great Start!