First-Year Transition

Welcome to McMaster and the Black Student Success Centre (BSSC)

Transitioning to university is easier when you already have a community.

All of us in the Black Student Success Centre are here to support you — through formal programs and events, casual opportunities to make connections, one-on-one appointments with our team and more.

A photo of Efe Chehore

Efe Chehore

Black Student Outreach and Transition Coordinator

Email: chehoree@mcmaster.ca
Phone: 905-525-9140 x 20987

Book a Session with Efe

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Gear Up for Mac: Head Start for University

Annually in July

A powerful week-long on-campus experience where incoming first-year students:

  • Attend sample lectures
  • Conduct hands-on labs and experiments
  • Connect with professors, Black student leaders and mentors
  • Explore McMaster’s campus, residence and student life
  • Build new friendships
  • Discover pathways in STEM, business, health, social sciences, humanities and the arts
  • And more
Gear Up for Mac: Head Start for UniversityLearn More
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Black Student Welcome and Welcome Week

Annually in August/September

Welcome Week with the BSSC includes 16 identity-affirming events designed to help Black students feel grounded, connected and confident before classes begin. Highlights include:

  • Community kickoff events
  • BSSC lounge drop-ins
  • Campus tours
  • Academic prep sessions
  • Student panels and storytelling
  • Connecting with Black student groups and partners
Black Student Welcome and Welcome WeekLearn More
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Entering McMaster: Your First-Year Community

Black Student Mentorship Program (BSMP)

Delivered in partnership with African Caribbean Faculty Association of McMaster (ACFRAM), BSMP is a four-tier mentorship model that helps you navigate each stage of university life:

  • Tier 1: Black faculty mentor graduate students
  • Tier 2: Graduate students mentor upper-year undergraduates
  • Tier 3: Upper-year students mentor first-years
  • Tier 4: First-year and high school students receive foundational mentoring 

First-Year Check-in Appointments

Led by our Black Student Outreach and Transition Coordinator, Efe Chehore, these one-on-one or small-group sessions give you an early touchpoint to share any questions, concerns or goals. You can book an appointment directly through our BSSC booking portal or drop into the Centre during Welcome Week for an initial session. These check-ins are no additional cost and part of the suite of supports built to help you feel grounded and connected from day one. 

Transition Programs Across McMaster

Searching for more transition support? Explore Black-focused and campus-wide programs across McMaster.