Mentors and Mentored Inquiry

Portland State University's (PSU) general education program, University Studies, employs a unique strategy for addressing student success. During the yearlong freshman level course (Freshman Inquiry) and term-long sophomore level courses (Sophomore Inquiry), upper-division undergraduate and graduate "peer mentors" are partnered with faculty to deliver these courses.

Peer mentors participate in the faculty-led main class session, and lead the smaller Mentored Inquiry Co-requisite, also called mentor sessions. While in mentor sessions, students learn basic computer technology such as Word, PowerPoint and Excel; research and writing skills; and techniques for working together on class assignments. In combination with the main FRINQ class, mentor sessions help students gain experience doing high quality individual and group work.