Support, survival and success.

Those words stand for the three main purposes of S Plan -- a program that offers freshmen of African descent a forum to discuss academic and social issues to make their adjustment to University life easier.

S Plan was originally proposed in Fall Semester 1988 as a retention program. S Plan was to be a forum for students to discuss health issues such as stress and sexual health within the African-American community.

The first S Plan sessions took place in Fall Semester 1989 and still continue to meet monthly. Since that time, S Plan has evolved to include discussions on any issues that students want to address, said Pam Scott (graduate-administration of justice), one of S Plan's coordinators.

Elaine Jurs, assistant director of the Office of Health Promotion and Education with University Health Services, said S Plan is important because it assists African-American students in their difficult first year.

Black student leaders volunteer to speak to these first-year students about their concerns, said Jurs, the S Plan faculty adviser.

"Student leaders, the Sigma Gamma Rho organization and other volunteers have come forward to share and help one another," Jurs said.

African-American student leaders participate in S Plan to help first-year students learn from other more experienced students how to negotiate and learn their way around Penn State, Jurs said.

S Plan provides freshmen of African descent the access to information and programs they may not know exist, Scott said. It provides information by having individuals speak on services provided on campus and through other students, she said.

"It gives them some of the information that they need like financial and academic assistance and talks about some of the problems they've vocalized like race relations and multicultural issues," Jurs said.

Danielle Drakeford (junior-elementary education) agreed, saying the program is beneficial for new students.

"It directs you to things like who to talk to about financial aid," Drakeford said. "It really directs you anywhere on campus about anything."

The program also provides resources that help students deal with a sometimes hostile atmosphere.

"S Plan is important here because the atmosphere for students of African descent is hostile in many instances," Scott said. "I think it's important for those students to be aware of resources that can help them with their four to five years here."

And S Plan also offers students the opportunity to meet different people.

"Coming up here as a freshman you don't know too many people. S Plan acts as a social gathering to take your mind off your studying," said Tyrone Parham (junior-administration of justice), a former program participant who continues to contribute to group sessions.

S Plan helps students feel they are supported by the University and that their needs and concerns are being addressed, Jurs said.

"I think that S Plan has been a tremendous success," Scott said. "I think we really succeeded in establishing a forum where relevant issues can be discussed and where a student network has been formed. This is one of most important keys to success here at Penn State."