What is the SAS Peer Mentoring Program?
The Student Accessibility Services (SAS) Peer Mentoring Program provides support to new, undergraduate students with disabilities during their first semester at UVM. Mentors are returning UVM students who are eligible for disability-related accommodations through SAS. The mentors provide a source of support, guidance, and information to their mentees. Pairing a new student with a mentor creates a personal connection for new students early on and facilitates connections to interest groups, events, activities, and support resources on campus.
First-year students may:
- Need different skills and knowledge than they needed in high school
- Not recognize when they need help
- Be uncomfortable asking for help
- Not know the resources available to them
The SAS Peer Mentoring Program hopes to assist in these areas and allow new students to feel more welcome and connected to the UVM campus.
Please note: Sign-ups are now open for new, undergraduate students interested in being paired with a SAS Peer Mentor for Fall 2026.
What are the benefits of the program?
Benefits to Mentees:
- An early connection to the UVM community
- Decreased anxiety about transition to college
- Comfortable access to information from peers
- Support engaging with campus resources, areas of interest, and activities
Benefits to Mentors:
- Opportunity to share expertise about the UVM campus and community
- Leadership development experience
- Resume building
- Various incentives provided by SAS
What will you do as a participant?
- The first month of the semester, mentors and mentees will meet informally once per week
- After the first month, mentors and mentees may meet as often as needed/wanted
- Mentors will help identify interest groups, activities, and helpful campus resources on campus and encourage engagement with the UVM community
- Mentees can reach out to their mentors whenever questions or concerns arise
- Mentors and mentees will maintain confidentiality
How do you join?
Mentees
Fill out this online form to request a SAS Peer Mentor for Fall 2026.
Contact SAS.PeerMentoring@uvm.edu with any questions.
Mentors
Every spring, SAS emails all students eligible for accommodations inviting them to apply to become a SAS Peer Mentor for the following academic year. Successful applicants complete a training prior to being paired with a mentor. Contact SAS.PeerMentoring@uvm.edu with any questions.