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First Year Seminar Peer Mentor

The Peer Mentor is a leader on campus who will help ease the transition to college for first-year students. The Peer Mentors will be assigned to one First Year Seminar (FYS) course and assist the instructor to meet the goals of the course and program. Mentors will offer peer insight into academic and social life at college, as well as provide supplemental support for all students on campus.

 The Peer Mentor is… 

 The Peer Mentor is not…

Expected to support the co-curricular aspects of the FYS course

A teaching assistant for the course

A teaching assistant for the course

Expected to attend every course meeting

Knowledgeable about resources and campus support for students that might be struggling with academic or transition challenges

Trained to serve as a tutor for your course or able to serve as an expert in your course content

Expected and able to serve as a facilitator on topics related to college transition, academic success, Common Book, ePortfolio, etc.

Expected to facilitate discussions on core content of the course

Able to read some course readings or complete selected, intentional, course assignments

Responsible for completing all readings and assignments for the course

Able to provide a peer review on some types of coursework

Expected to review/grade all course assignments

Able to make connections with students outside of class through individual student meetings, attendance at campus events, Facebook, etc.

Expected to make copies, grade papers, take attendance, or serve as an assistant for the course

Knowledgeable and skilled in using campus technology including Blackboard, OZone, ePortfolio, My Banner

Trained to serve as an academic advisor

Suggestions for using a Peer Mentor:

  • Ask your Peer Mentor to provide weekly presentations to your students about selected campus resources
  • Have Peer Mentor develop a program or facilitate discussion related to the FYEx theme of the week(s)
  • Identify FYEx programs that support the themes related to your course or that you deem as significant for your students. Ask your Peer Mentor to attend events with your students and facilitate discussion in class related to the event.
  • Ask your Peer Mentor to set up individual meetings with your students to support their transition to Otterbein
  • Identify course assignments to be posted to the ePortfolio and ask your Peer Mentor to demonstrate how to effectively utilize the ePortfolio system
  • Have your Peer Mentor provide a peer review on a paper or assignment for your course. Have him/her share with the class their experience with similar assignments including successes and challenges
  • Ask the Peer Mentor to review or give feedback on FYEx reflection papers
  • Ask your Peer Mentor to set-up and actively maintain a Facebook group for your course section
  • Identify a particular course reading or assignment that connects to the Peer Mentor’s role in your course. Ask the Peer Mentor to participate in or facilitate discussion related to that topic
  • (If Peer Mentor has taken your course previously) Have Peer Mentor provide tips, recommendations for course success. Have Peer Mentor assist with instruction of historically challenging course content, when appropriate.

 

/Contact FYE

The Center for Student Success is your contact for FYE and is located in Barlow Hall, behind the Rock, next to the Center for Career and Professional Development.

 

Office Hours
M-Th: 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
F: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

p / 614-823-1624

 

Kate Lehman, Assistant Dean for Student Success
studentsuccess@otterbein.edu