Designed to assist student residents of the AZ Preston Hall at the University of the West Indies, Mona, the Preston Academic Support System (PASS) was launched on Thursday, October 29.

The student-led, hall-based academic-support initiative is designed to bring tutoring and other academic resources closer to students. The recurring programme was developed in partnership with the University’s Academic Support Unit to provide structured tutoring, collaborative study sessions, study-skills development, and practical academic guidance within the residential community.

The initiative is intended to address a common challenge in university life: students delaying seeking assistance until they are already experiencing serious academic difficulty. By making support available in a familiar environment and outside regular academic hours, PASS aims to normalise help-seeking, encourage early intervention and help students develop stronger academic habits.

The launch was held at Preston’s Café and it featured student stories, interactive academic challenges, cultural performances, demonstrations of the support available to students, and registration for recurring PASS sessions.

According to Jailon Bailey, a second-year law student and the deputy hall chair at AZ Preston Hall, the launch’s aim was to introduce the various programmes that are available to residents of the hall.

“We wanted to introduce the programmes to the residents while connecting them with institutions such as the National Council of Drug Abuse (NCDA), the UWI Mona Academic Support Unit (ASU) and placement and career services. It was a great opportunity for our residents to interact with these institutions and receive valuable information,” Bailey told Observer Online.

Bailey shared that with PASS aligning with the institutions, this was a major endorsement for the programme.

“The alignment with these services gives PASS institutional credit and that’s what we really need this year, for persons to know that we are serious and that the programme makes sense,” Bailey stated.

He added, “We have a host of activities such as tutoring, a device loan programme for those students who don’t have a laptop or a tablet, as well as drivers’ education.”

Shalome Edwards, a resident at AZ Preston Hall and a chemistry management student, attended the launch.

“I’m interested in what PASS is all about. What I have learnt is that it is a support system for students, and I think that it will provide a safe space for students to seek academic support,” she said.

“PASS will be the outlet where students can be involved in academics and hall events,” said Michael Shane, a first year biochemistry student.