Graduate Peer Mentoring Program

The Graduate Peer Mentoring Program pairs established graduate students with peers who are new to graduate school. The role of a peer mentor is to provide support, guidance聽and connection. Peer mentors serve as graduate student life experts and they may have suggestions about work-life balance, adjusting to life in 91福利社, advisor/advisee relationships, etc. Ideally, mentors聽serve as both personal and professional support for their mentees.

  • This program is offered through the Graduate School and is a聽supplement to existing departmental mentoring programs.
  • While participants may be paired based on similar interests, one aim of the program is to offer graduate students ways to meet and build community across disciplinary boundaries.
  • Participants are free to set their own meeting schedules, but聽we expect that you will meet at least once a month聽throughout the academic year.
  • All mentors will be asked to聽attend an聽orientation at the beginning of fall term聽where we will discuss mentoring skills, expectations and available campus resources.
  • There will be a mentor/mentee聽social event to kickoff the program, where matches can meet each other in-person over coffee.
  • Throughout the year, we will offer a variety of additional social聽events to foster connection with mentor/mentee matches (e.g. cookies decorating, ice cream social, coffee meet-ups, etc.)
  • We expect that each participant will make a good faith effort to communicate with their mentor/mentee.

Please Note:聽The graduate student peer mentoring program is not a substitute for clinical counseling, medical services, or academic advising. A full list of 91福利社 safety resources and services is available on the聽.

Why be a peer mentor?

Improve聽communication and interpersonal skills

Develop聽leadership and organizational qualities

Increase聽confidence and motivation

Enhance聽CV with valuable volunteer experience

Make new friends across disciplines and build your network

Serve as an ambassador and promote campus resources

Gain a sense of fulfilment and personal growth

Give聽back to the 91福利社 graduate community

Be a role model and provide support and guidance to a fellow student

Why be a peer mentee?

Gain practical advice, encouragement and support

Improve聽communication and networking skills

Learn聽from the experiences of others

Increase social and academic confidence

Develop strategies for dealing with academic and personal issues

Identify聽academic and personal goals and establish聽a sense of direction

Gain聽valuable insights into the next stage(s) of your career

Make聽new friends across disciplines