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The Peer Mentor program provides an additional level of support for UNCA’s incoming students. Peer Mentors are experienced students who work with LSIC instructors to form strong positive relationships with freshmen or transfer students during their first semester. New students can look to Peer Mentors as successful student role models.

Peer Mentors work both in and out of the classroom to guide students through issues such as academic decision-making, time management, study skills, major exploration, campus issues, and adjustment difficulties. They organize extra-curricular social and academic activities, serve as an additional point of contact for students outside of class and on the weekends, set up peer editing or study sessions, and refer students to appropriate university resources. They receive training in active listening, helping skills, campus resources and referrals, academic success skills, adjustment issues, and ILS curriculum information.

If you are a Liberal Studies Introductory Colloquium instructor or UNCA student interested in participating in the Peer Mentor program, or would like more information, please contact Calley Stevens Taylor (cstevens@unca.edu, 251-6060) in the Advising & Learning Support Center in LH 107. The forms for students who may wish to apply for a mentor position and for faculty to use in referring students for mentoring positions are linked below:

Student Mentor Application Form

Student Mentor Nomination Form for Faculty

Want to know what people are saying about this program? Here are comments from faculty and mentors:

Faculty:

My mentor was willing to help students outside the class, with advising, etc. He set a wonderful example of campus service and encouraged students to do the same.

She set up study groups with the students and encouraged them to take advantage of extracurricular opportunities. I also greatly benefited from getting her perspective on how the class was going in general.

In class discussions, she provided another informed perspective that differed from my own, but differed also from the freshmen, so that it added depth to discussions. She provided a link between me and the students, so that I think students felt I was more approachable. I know that she often served as a sounding board and peer advisor for students in the class.

Mentors:

I found that this experience met my expectations as a class, but the students continually surprised me with their incredible depth and diverse personalities.

Getting to know the LSIC instructor better and having a professor willing to mentor me as I mentored for his class was a great experience. His prodding and pushing to help me plan my major, end of school career, and even time management were a great added bonus to the experience.

I really enjoyed connecting with students and watching them become more comfortable at UNCA and in class as the semester went on. I feel that no matter how small, my presence and availability to them helped, and that is a good feeling.