Information on Becoming a Peer (Undergraduate) or Graduate Mentor

What is a mentor?

Mentors are capable, creative and experienced students who help other students make the most out of their academic careers. Peer mentors are juniors or seniors who work with first-year students in yearlong Freshman Inquiry courses. Graduate mentors come from all academic backgrounds and work with Sophomore Inquiry courses.

What does a mentor do?

Mentors plan and facilitate 50-minute mentor sessions for Freshman Inquiry and Sophomore Inquiry courses. Successful mentors are flexible, perform multiple roles and approach topics through a variety of lenses. Mentors serve as colleagues and teachers helping students learn the academic ropes. They bridge faculty and students and help build positive learning communities among students. They work closely with their faculty partners and are creative team players in implementing course objectives. Mentors work 10-20 hours per week.

What else am I expected to do as a mentor?

• Be well trained.  All new mentors must enroll in a four-credit Mentor Training course that is offered in the spring. The course must be completed with a grade of "B" or higher before new mentors are formally hired. In addition, mentors must participate in a two-week fall training prior to the start of school. If you cannot attend both the class and the fall training, you cannot be a mentor.

• Be minimally competent in the use of technology. All new mentors will be expected to demonstrate competency in basic academic technology programs such as Excel, Power Point, Photoshop, Microsoft Word and email. The University Studies program has a dedicated technology training lab in Cramer Hall 166. Mentors are given priority access to the lab and its mentor technology trainers to learn about using these technologies in the classroom with their students. 

• Actively participate in a learning community. All mentors must complete 7 hours of on-going training per quarter. All mentors are also expected to contribute to the Mentor Training and Development website.

• Be a full-time student.  All mentors must be full time PSU students. Undergraduate (peer) mentors must take a minimum of 12 credit hours per term. The minimum enrollment for graduate mentors is 9 credit hours per term.

What is the compensation?

Peer mentors receive an Oregon Laurels Scholarship that pays in-state tuition up to 12 credits. They also receive a monthly stipend. Mentors who receive another scholarship that pays for PSU tuition receive an additional sum each month in lieu of the tuition remission. (See Mentor application for this year's award.)

Graduate Mentors are hired as Graduate Teaching Assistants and receive graduate tuition up to 9 credits and a monthly stipend. More information on Graduate Assistantships is available HERE.

What are other benefits?

Every mentor benefits in unique ways. Mentors become part of a community of scholars who help others to critically and responsibly engage in our increasingly diverse and interconnected world. Mentors gain valuable leadership experience, develop close working relationships with faculty and become even better students themselves. Peer Mentors can also receive upper division credits for their experience.

What experiences or skills do I need?

• Have at least a 3.25 GPA.

• For Peer mentors: Have 90 or more credits by the September they begin work.

• For Graduate mentors: Be admitted into a graduate program by the September they will begin work. (You can apply for this position if you have not been accepted yet. However, we can only hire those who have been admitted into a graduate program.)

• Be an excellent student and excellent writer.

• Be able to be an "academic generalist" and approach the content of the courses in an interdisciplinary manner.

• Have excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work in a culturally-diverse environment.

• Have adequate to excellent technology skills (i.e., computer software).

What is the recruitment and hiring process?

Applications are available as of November 1 2009. The on-line application can be found HERE.

The University Studies Peer Mentor Scholarship is listed under"General University Scholarships"

Application deadline is February 2 2009.

Interviews will be held in mid February. Those applicants selected for interviews will be contacted by email to set up an interview time.