The University Studies Peer Mentor Program at Portland State University plays an integral role in the First Year Inquiry (FRINQ) and Sophomore Inquiry (SINQ) courses by recruiting highly-skilled undergraduate and graduate students to mentor first and second-year students.
The Peer Mentor Program was developed under the same award-winning, interdisciplinary general education guidelines as PSU's University Studies Program.
Over 100 undergraduate and graduate Peer Mentors work directly with the FRINQ and SINQ faculty to support students by role-modeling and developing the skills needed to succeed at the university. Given the nature of their work and their frequent professional development trainings, Peer Mentors also benefit by developing strong leadership, listening, and communication skills, making them highly sought after candidates in the workplace and in graduate programs.
About the UNST Mentor Program
University Studies employs a unique strategy for addressing student success at Portland State University. During the year-long first-year level course (First Year Inquiry) and term-long sophomore-level courses (Sophomore Inquiry), upper-division undergraduate and graduate peer mentors are partnered with faculty to deliver these courses. The mentor program is a community of exceptional students trained to provide leadership and academic support to their peers in mentor sessions. Mentor Sessions are designed to help mentees gain experience doing high-quality academic work in small groups.