SOAR+ First Year Experience Program
Set your goals. Build your plan. Stay on track.
SOAR+ program is Harper College’s new personalized first year experience program.
It has been crafted to help you feel supported from your first semester through graduation
or transfer. Your Academic Advisor becomes a consistent partner—someone who knows
you, understands your goals, and helps you make confident decisions at every step
of your Harper journey.
How SOAR+ helps you succeed
- One Academic Advisor who knows you and supports when challenges arise
You’ll meet with the same Academic Advisor throughout your time at Harper even after
you complete your first year. Your Academic Advisor will help you navigate academic,
financial, or personal challenges, and your SOAR+ Mentor of Choice is also here to
help you to engage and support your needs
- A clear plan for your degree or transfer based on Harper’s Path for Success
Work together to build and update your educational and SOAR+ success plan.
- Mentoring Opportunity, Enrichment Workshops, Cultural Excursion Events, Financial
Literacy, and SOAR+ Financial Awards to help support your needs
- Our Mentoring by Choice program allows you to choose a peer, Harper faculty or staff,
Harper Alumni, or one of our corporate partners that will help serve as an additional
advocate to build critical skills as a new student
- Engaging enrichment workshops to build important skills inside and outside of the
classroom
- Cultural excursion events to build connections on campus
- Dedicated support to build a strong financial literacy foundation that can be used
for life!
- A financial award of $300 in your Fall and Spring semester in your first year of studies
that can be used to support your needs as a new college student
- Celebrating your progress
Your Academic Advisor tracks your milestones, connects and engages with you in SOAR+
workshops and events, and also helps you stay on track to earn your SOAR+ financial
award
What to expect in the SOAR+ First Year Experience Program
- Orientation Appointment
Explore your goals, build your first plan and register for classes, learn how to use
the MyHarper student portal, and get your ID.
- First Semester Check-In
Get to know your Academic Advisor and create your Educational and SOAR+ Success Plan,
take the Focus 2 Assessment and choose a Program of Study, choose enrichment workshops
and excursion activities of your choice, and choose a mentor in our Mentoring by Choice
Program
- Second Semester Planning
Review and adjust your Educational and SOAR+ Success plan, meet with your mentor,
attend enrichment workshops of your choice, and explore transfer school excursion
events to prepare yourself if you plan to attend a four-year institution
Who is eligible for SOAR+?
SOAR+ is designed for new, first-time in college, credential-seeking students enrolled
in 9 or more credit hours who meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Placement in developmental coursework
- High school GPA of 2.5 or lower High school GPA of 2.5-3.0 and low-income status
- Undecided on a program of study
Why SOAR+ works
The program is built on Harper’s holistic advising philosophy: cultivate relationships,
organize resources, navigate challenges, normalize help-seeking, empower decision-making,
communicate proactively, track progress, and celebrate success. It focuses on building
a strong sense of belonging and community for every student by providing them with
equitable access to opportunities that are critical to supporting a strong foundation
of success at college and beyond!
Learn more about SOAR+
Contact the SOAR+ Program Office:
SOARProgram@harpercollege.edu
847.925.6204
