December 6, 2004 2:01pm
Re: Mentor Programs

Hello!

At the University of Charleston our First-Year Seminar course is team taught by a faculty/staff mentor and a Peer Educator. The program is housed under our Arts & Science Division. Mentors are not paid. The commitment is year long. Mentors participate in New Student Orientation, attend weekly mentor meetings, and teach a one-hour course each week.
If you would like any additional info please let me know.

Sincerely,

Candice Clendenin
Freshmen & Peer Educator Program Advisor
University of Charleston

December 6, 2004 2:48pm
Re: Mentor Programs

At SUNY ESF in Syracuse, NY we have a student-to-student mentoring program where upperclass students are paired with first year students. There are approximately 25 mentors that are assigned about 10-12 "mentees". The mentors receive 1 course credit for particpating in this program. They are not paid, but some informal programs and events that they take their students off campus to participate in are often covered by our student life/activities office.

Leah A. Flynn
Coordinator of Student Programs and First Year Experience
SUNY ESF
470-6658/4865
FAX: 470-4728

December 6, 2004 11:40pm
Re: Mentor Programs

The peer mentor program I coordinated at CCU involved students who co-taught a first-year success seminar with a faculty member. These students served an entire year and received three hours of course credit for their services. However, they were not paid. Between recruitment, selection, training, and course faciliation (seminar for peer mentors), I would estimate that I spent about 40% of my time on the program during the academic year.

The program was housed in the Office of Academic Advising and First-Year Programs, which also housed a faculty mentoring program for first-year students as well. I hope this helps.
Take care.

Brad Harmon
Doctoral Intern for Staff Development and Judicial Programs
Department of University Housing
University of Georgia
(706) 542-2753

December 7, 2004 9:58am
Re: Mentor Programs

Rose,

We have a Peer Mentor program that is associated with our First Year Seminar and Transfer Student Seminar programs. The program is housed under Academic Support Services, which is under Student Affairs. Yes, we do pay the mentors. Students that are eligible are ones that are or will be 2nd, 3rd or 4th year students in the upcoming fall semester. The mentors serve all first year students and Transfer Students that decide to take the Transfer Seminar. I would estimate that in the fall semester, it takes up about 25% of my time between planning for our weekly meetings, having the meetings, and meeting with the Peer mentors that I specifically work with. The only thing that I do with it in the spring is advertise and hire them. If you are thinking about having one, it is truly a great program. The students who do this are incredibly motivated and really want to help.

I am including our Peer Mentor Manual that is a training/handbook for the semester. Hope that you find it helpful.

Benjamin Trapanick
Learning Skills Specialist; Acting Coordinator of Advising
Academic Support Services