Program Purpose
The Peer Mentoring Program is a program designed to assist in the social, personal, and academic acclimation to UVM by pairing incoming first-year students with outstanding sophomore, junior, senior and graduate students who act as mentors throughout the academic year. This program has been in existence since 2001 and has proven to be successful for both the mentees and mentors.

Why Mentoring?
Mentoring can be defined as a helpful relationship between a younger and older individual. The purpose of having a mentoring relationship in college is to assist students with the challenges associated with the first year college experience. The Peer Mentoring Program provides academic and personal support for participating students during the challenging first year of college. Relationships are built by matching mentors and mentees through interviews, profiles, and mentor matching sessions.

In addition to providing support, mentors are also bridge-builders between their first-year mentees and the student service departments across campus. This means that students have a ready resource for questions ranging from where how to get involved I student activities to how to add a class or declare a major.

One of the primary goals of the Peer Mentoring Program is to foster academic excellence through academic programming in collaboration with the ALANA Student Center’s Scholar Series workshops, as well as with the Learning Cooperative, located in the Living & Learning Center.

PEER MENTOR/MENTEE APPLICATIONS DUE BY MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2009!!!
Two formats (PDF and Word) of the application are provided for your convenience. If you would like to e-mail the application as an attachment, please fill out the Word version.

Want to be a Peer Mentor?
Download the Peer Mentor Application/Brochure PDF

Download the Peer Mentor Application Word Document

Want to be Mentee matched with a Peer Mentor?
Download the Peer Mentee Application/Brochure PDF

Download the Peer Mentee Application Word Document

Mentors Can Provide:

• Personalized guidance and friendship during the first year of university life.
• Experience and knowledge about how to be a successful college student.
• Information about academic resources, co-curricular activities, and the social life at UVM.
• Introductions to Burlington and the local community resources.

Many activities are offered during the school year to enhance the mentor/mentee relationship.
In addition, mentees and mentors assist in the planning of activities. Past activities have included:

• Bowling Nights
• Free tickets to Flynn Center for Performing Arts
• Laser Tag at Pizza Putt
• Halloween party
• Movie and Game Nights
• Ice Skating

Why Become a Mentor?
Mentoring can be defined as a trusting and helpful relationship between an older and younger individual. The purpose of becoming a mentor in college is to create a trusting and helpful relationship, which will assist incoming students with the challenges associated with the first year of college. Peer Mentors take on the responsibility of assisting students’ growth and development by providing academic and personal support. Mentors are also expected to be a role model and assist with setting goals for their mentee, both academically and personally.

As a Mentor, you will learn how to provide:
• Personalized guidance and friendship during the first year of university life
• An insight to your experience and knowledge as successful college students
• Information about academic resources, social activities and the social life at UVM
• Introductions to Burlington and the local community resources

Some Student Testimonies:

"The mentoring program has given me the opportunity to connect one-on-one with a first-year student in asignificant way. I have enjoyed my lunches, programs, and events with my mentee. This experience has been deeply gratifying. I recommend that others do it too!"
~Domonic Rollins, Mentor

“It's a great opportunity to develop a relationship with your mentor as well as with other mentors and mentees involved in the program. Plus, it's a lot of fun!”
~ Ariel Commins, Mentee

"I gained a support network of people who faced the same challenges that I do. I was also able to gain new friends from people I met at the ALANA Student Center."
~Alex Barner, Mentee

"For me, the Peer Mentoring Program was fun and a great way to help first year students network in their new college experience. I learned so much!"
~Joselyn Martinez, Mentor

To become involved with this incredible program as either a mentee or mentor please contact
Maria Erb at Maria.Erb@uvm.edu or (802) 656-1058 for more information.



Questions or comments about this website should be directed to the webmaster asc@uvm.edu