PERU - A program that was started to reach out to students during the coronavirus pandemic continues to serve new students at Peru State College.

The college’s Peru Academic Liaison program was launched in March of 2020 when in-person classes across the country were canceled.

Rather than an emergency response today, the program has evolved into a retention strategy.

Peru State retention specialist Susanne Williams said the college recognized the value of an ongoing program to help new students navigate their first eight months of college life.

Tim Borchers, vice president for academic affairs, said the PALs Program helps students to connect with the college.

Borchers: "When students feel connection, they are a lot more likely to return the next semester.”

https://www.peru.edu/cats/academic/pals.html