Bowen Fellows are an integral part of the Bowen Student Success Program. They are competitively chosen from their peers to lead, mentor, and teach expert learning skills to first-year (1L) students during the fall semester. Bowen Fellows are selected based on their demonstrated leadership skills, excellence in academic performance, professionalism, and a desire to lead and care for their fellow students.
Bowen Fellows’ duties begin in the summer when they make themselves available to every student in their assigned Student Success Teams (SSTs) that will be arriving for the fall semester. Communications with incoming students may include everything from a simple welcome, to answering questions about Bowen and their classes, to making referrals to other appropriate offices.
The Bowen Fellows are also critical to the success of the First Week orientation. During this week, they hold their first SST sessions to help students get off on the right foot in law school. They also lead a 1L community service project and assist the Office of Student Affairs with various logistics of the orientation week.
Throughout the fall semester, Bowen Fellows facilitate weekly guided group study sessions with first-year law students for their required substantive classes. They instruct students in core student success skills such as self-regulated learning, goal setting, case briefing, outlining, test-taking strategies, and stress management. Bowen Fellows also encourage and promote SST members’ participation in events/activities such as BSSP workshops, academic advising/support, consultation with the writing specialist, wellness events, fitness classes, career services/networking events, community service and pro bono activities, and student organization membership/leadership/events. This participation ensures that 1Ls are not just proficient in the classroom, but are healthy and well-rounded students who embody the core values of Bowen: professionalism, public service, and a dedication to access to justice.
