1. Facilitating Social Support Among Students (ROPE) Martin Heesacker, Chair Greg Neimeyer, Graduate Coordinator Department of Psychology University of Florida Recruitment Recruitment Orientation Orientation Participation Participation Evaluation Evaluation

2. Recruitment Campus Visitations for prospective students Current students participate in Campus Visitations -opening social -group lunch -scheduled student meeting Current students participate in Campus Visitations -opening social -group lunch -scheduled student meeting

3. Orientation Incoming students have a departmental orientation Incoming students have a departmental orientation Followed by a departmental luncheon in which they are the “guests of honor” Followed by a departmental luncheon in which they are the “guests of honor” 1.Graduate Student Orientation 2.Reception

4. Participation First Year Seminar in Psychological Science First Year Seminar in Psychological Science Graduate Student Advisory Board - Career Fair -Grad Prep Talks -Undergraduate Research Forum Graduate Student Advisory Board - Career Fair -Grad Prep Talks -Undergraduate Research Forum

5. Evaluation “Consider your relationships with fellow students. How would you characterize those relationships? What role(s) do you see these relationships playing in your development as a psychologist?” “Consider your relationships with fellow students. How would you characterize those relationships? What role(s) do you see these relationships playing in your development as a psychologist?”  “The relationships with my cohort have been extremely important. This is a challenging program and the social support from peers is absolutely necessary. I am very grateful for my cohort. As a developing psychologist it has also been helpful to talk to my peers about their various areas of specialization and vice versa. “

6. Evaluation: Businesslike “My relationships with fellow students are fine. I do not see much reason why I should become close with them unless we are collaborating on a research project or coursework project. Most of my interactions come from my own research lab colleagues and that is how I build my professionalism.” “My relationships with fellow students are fine. I do not see much reason why I should become close with them unless we are collaborating on a research project or coursework project. Most of my interactions come from my own research lab colleagues and that is how I build my professionalism.”

7. Evaluation: Quantitative Overall, how would you rate the quality of your relationships with your peers in the department using the following scale? Unsatisfactory 1 2 3 4 5 Highly Satisfactory Mean = 3.91, SD = 1.08, Median = 4.00

8. Summary Facilitate Student Social Support Through Four Processes (ROPE): 1. Recruitment 2. Orientation 3. Participation 4. Evaluation