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Peer Mentoring Program

 

Now accepting Peer Mentor Applications for Fall 2023!

Priority application deadline: March 31, 2023

 

Please read all of the information below before submitting an application:

Peer Mentors assist FYI 100 faculty within their course and serve as advocates for the needs, interests, and rights of first-year students. Peer Mentors are involved in many aspects of FYI 100 (First Year Introduction) course instruction, which may include syllabus planning, facilitating class discussions, and spending out-of-class time with students. The peer mentor role focuses on teaching first-year students about Eastern's resources, helping students to connect with groups on campus, and guiding discussions on college survival skills such as time management, advising, registration, and financial literacy. 

You are eligible to be a peer mentor for FYI 100 if you meet or exceed the following criteria: 

  1. Have achieved at least sophomore standing before classes begin in Fall 2022
  2. Have a GPA of 2.5 or higher
  3. Have a strong interest in helping students achieve academic success and become involved in university life
  4. Have previous experience as a student in FYI 100 (preferred) or any related volunteer or work experience
  5. Have experience that indicates an ability to interact well with people and to follow through on commitments 

Application Process

TO APPLY FOR A PEER MENTOR POSITION, please read the "job description" below very carefully. If you are comfortable with the stated policies and responsibilities, complete the online application form via the link below. Upon receipt, your application will be reviewed and--at the discretion of the director of FYI 100--you will be called in for an interview.

PLEASE NOTE: ALL PEER MENTOR APPLICANTS (INCLUDING THOSE WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM) ARE REQUIRED TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION FORM AND, IF APPROVED, ENROLL IN FYR 314: PEER MENTOR SEMINAR (2 credits). EXPERIENCED PEER MENTORS ARE INVALUABLE IN HELPING TO TRAIN THOSE WITH NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE.

TENTATIVE PEER MENTOR RESPONSIBILITIES

ALL PEER MENTORS MUST AGREE TO AND/OR PARTICIPATE IN THE FOLLOWING:

  1. Attend a peer mentor training on a to-be-determined date.
  2. Enroll in FYR 314 Peer Mentor Seminar, a two-credit course that has two components.
    1. The coursework component will meet every Monday evening from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm during the fall semester. Please do not schedule anything on Mondays during this class time. This course is designed to continue to provide peer mentors with the skills required to help new students become proficient in using the academic and support resources of the university. Topics such as critical thinking, academic honesty, facilitating class discussions, leadership skills, navigating the campus and local community, making use of library resources, and promoting a culture of mutual respect in and out of the classroom will be the core of the mentoring course. The peer mentor class offers students a forum to discuss and assess their individual successes and problems as mentors. Assignments may include the following:
      • Assigned readings followed by classroom discussion
      • Reflective essays to be created throughout the semester as a way to record experiences with mentoring, teaching, and working with instructors
      • An end-of-the-semester project
      • New and returning peer mentors may be assigned tasks/projects based on experience
    2. The other FYR 314 course component is based on a peer mentor's performance as a mentor. Peer Mentors are required to have weekly planning meetings with the FYI 100 faculty member they are assisting. FYI 100 is a 3-credit course and will generally meet more than once a week. Peer Mentors are required to attend their FYI 100 class for one continuous 50-minute period each week. Both the FYR 314 instructor and the FYI 100 instructor will monitor these requirements.
  3. Encourage their FYI 100 class to get involved with campus cultural activities.
  4. Uphold all the rules and regulations of the University, including academic integrity, in order to serve as role models for first-year students.
  5. Maintain strict confidentiality about information shared between the Peer Mentor and students and with the FYI 100 instructors.
  6. Work as a team with their FYI 100 instructors, mentees, and fellow mentors; fulfill mentor responsibilities with respect and consideration for all team members; and maintain the relationship of "mentor" to all their mentees.
  7. Give PowerPoint presentations to their FYI 100 class on a variety of topics, if/when required.
  8. Note: The FYR 314 instructor--in consultation with the assigned FYI 100 course instructor--will determine the letter grade for FYR 314.

 

Ready to Apply? Complete the form below:

Online Peer Mentor Application

 


Eastern Connecticut State University is committed to following the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. If you are a student with a disability (or think you may have a disability), and require adaptations or accommodations, or assistance evacuating a building in the case of an emergency, please contact the Office of Accessibility Services (OAS) at 860-465-0189 to discuss your request further. Any student registered with the OAS should contact the instructor as soon as possible for assistance with classroom accommodations. Please note that the accommodations are not retroactive, and must be communicated through a Letter of Accommodation, which is drafted by the OAS.