The University of Toledo College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics is launching a new peer mentorship program for first-year students beginning in the fall.
“As our first-year students are finding their footing as Rockets, we’re committed to supporting their success both in and out of the classroom,” Dean Marc Seigar said. “The UToledo NSM Mentor Collective Program will be a valuable resource for these new students, offering them the insights and experiences of peers who have been where they are now.”
The new mentoring program will pair first-year students with sophomore, junior or senior volunteers who will help them to navigate challenges and recognize opportunities in their first year at the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. While these first-year students will benefit from individualized advice and insights, their mentors will benefit from opportunities to build their networks and develop their skills as leaders.
Seigar said there is strong evidence that peer-mentoring programs improve retention of first-year students and that mentors involved in those programs are more likely themselves to graduate.
Mentors will connect with their mentees at least monthly throughout the academic year.
The program is facilitated by the Mentor Collective, a peer-mentoring platform specializing in higher education. The Mentor Collective will provide training and ongoing support to mentors as well as match them with mentees based on shared interests and experiences.
“College brings a lot of new experiences for our first-year students, and we know that it can be very helpful for them to be able to speak with peers who have already navigated some of them,” said John Plenefisch, associate dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. “Their mentors may have already passed that course that’s worrying them or already joined a faculty research lab. The mentors can tell new students what student organizations they joined and what they did to find their place and feel at home on campus.
“When we’ve spoken with our current students, we’ve consistently heard that they would have benefited from a program like this,” Plenefisch continued. “We think it will be a really positive experience for our students.”
For more information, or to sign up as a mentor or mentee, go to the NSM Mentor Collective Program website.
