SUPPORTING STUDENTS THROUGH PEER MENTORING

4 Program Models that Work

WHO WE ARE

ADRIENNE NUSSBAUM Director/Assistant Dean Office of International Students and Scholars Boston College

STEPHEN SILVER Director of International Student Programs Office of Pluralism and Leadership Dartmouth College

SANDRA LEMONS Director for International Student Services Office of International Affairs Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis

ZAHRA AHMED Director, Civic and Community Engagement Division of Undergraduate Education University of California, Irvine

BOSTON COLLEGE International Assistant Program

PROGRAM OVERVIEWProgram was created in 1980 by international student from Taiwan working with administration. I have been overseeing since 1987.

75 International Assistants matched with approximately 300 new freshmen and exchange students; 4 students per IA; All new international students are automatically matched.

Volunteer-no compensation except for a t-shirt and some free meals!

Divided into 9 Cluster Groups-Each with 2 International Coordinators who are returning IAs

Mostly American/some internationals; More females than male, More A&S than other schools

Supervised by Director of OISS with assistance from GA

12 month program overviewAugust: IA Workshop and International Student OrientationSeptember-December: Welcome Social; Halloween Event, Thanksgiving Dinner, Holiday Social, Red

Sox Game, Cluster Group eventsJanuary-February: Spring Orientation; Recruitment for new IAsMarch-May: Interviewing, Selection and Initial Training of new IAs; Celtics Game, Easter EventJune-July: Match IAs with students; prepare for training and orientation

INTERVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESSInterviewing and selection done by 20 current IAs who comprise “Steering Committee”

Trained in interview skills, IA qualifications, and selection meeting process

30 minute interview conducted by pair of interviewers; Each interviewer on two teams

Have very structured interview questions for consistency with some flexibility for hypotheticals

Need to complete evaluation form on each candidate on 4 most important criteria for IA after interview and at end of process:

Personal Qualities/Communication SkillsKnowledge of IA Program and demonstrated year long commitmentKnowledge of BC and Boston-Good resource personInternational perspective and interest (not necessarily experience)

Selection done at one all day/night meetingApplicants presented anonymously except for returning IAsAll peer decisions/group consensus-challenge each other

TRAINING“The IA program is like studying abroad everywhere in one year. It has given me a much wider range of experiences and opinions about life than I'd normally have access to. It has also helped me take a better look at my own culture, and has furthered my awareness of it. I've become more critical of some things that I hadn't noticed before, and more proud of others."

4 Hour Training at end of April right after selectionIcebreakerRole plays of IA/IS relationshipsPanel of IAs and ISsBarnga cross-cultural simulationSocial

4 Hour Training of International Coordinatorsin August

Leadership skillsCommunicationDelegationMotivationLogistical details

2 ½ Day Training of All IAs in August preceding OrientationIce breakersCluster Group MeetingsValues in other culturesCross-Cultural CommunicationCultural adjustmentResource InformationBafa-Bafa Cross-cultural simulationSocial Justice Activity

RESPONSIBILITIES“I remember someone told me that the program would change my life. I thought "yeah right" and I now realize that he was right. The IA program literally transformed me from a girl who had never been out of New England to a world-wide traveler. It has made me more culturally aware and sensitive and allows me to truly embrace cultures that I would have to wait a lifetime to otherwise encounter.”

Attend 4 hour training in April Participate fully in 3 day International Assistant Workshop and 4 day International

Student Orientation at end of August Attend Evaluation and Orientation Session in January Attend OISS organized events throughout year Attend cluster group events throughout year Meet with your students on a regular basis, especially first few weeks

Serve as cultural informant Help students meet Americans Serve as resource person Get them involved in BC co-curriculars Help them get to know Boston Help with any issues: academic, roommate, culture shock, etc.

CHALLENGESKeeping IAs motivated through entire year

Getting freshmen to be involved as much as exchange students

Budget-not a club

Growth in program - used to be 1-1 relationship with 30 IAs and 30 freshmenCan no longer include TCKs or Americans

abroad

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES“Looking back at my four years of college, I can think of few experiences as valuable as the International Assistant Program. I think I have gained more from the program than I could possibly give. I have learned about other cultures. I have learned about new ways of doing things. In the process, I have learned about the US, my culture, and most importantly, myself. Through the friends and love I felt in the IA program, I know I am a better person. I will carry the experience with me always."

Structure of peer interview/selection process

Competiveness of selection process-some years has been 1/5 who apply get in

Impact on IAs who are intentionally mostly Americans

About 1/3 of IAs are returning

Social Justice piece as part of IA training-hope to do more of this in the future.

DARTMOUTH COLLEGE Name of program?

PROGRAM STRUCTUREProgram created in 2001 for 24 new international students mentored one-on-one by 24 mentors.

Currently one International Student Mentor Coordinator, 10 Mentors, 10-13 protégés per Mentor.

While the ISM program is voluntary, mentors and mentor coordinator get a $300 meal stipend.

U.S. students may be ISMs, and protégés include transfers, exchange, and U.S. overseas students.

Protégés are supervised by Director of International Student Programs and Mentor Coordinator

Program timeline:

Spring term selection of International Student Mentor Coordinator and 10 International Student MentorsMentors and Mentor Coordinator correspond with new international students in the summerLate August/early September Mentor Training Days, Boston Logan Meet & Greet, ISOSeptember through early March mentors advise, assist protégés; and plan up to four programs

INTERVIEW/SELECTION PROCESSInternational Student Mentor Coordinator (ISMC) Selection ProcessMentor Coordinator position advertised to all Mentors and international undergraduates.Prospective Mentor Coordinators submit applications, meet with ISP Director and previous ISMC.

International Student Mentor Selection Process and RequirementsInternational Student Mentor positions advertised to all undergraduates.New International Student Mentor Coordinator helps select new Mentors.Prospective International Student Mentors complete applications; 15-30 students apply.Group interviews for applicants include hypotheticals and programming questions.Mentors must show genuine interest in the world via travel, study abroad, heritage, culture, etc.Mentors must participate in mentor training, and be on campus for fall and winter terms.All mentors participate in International Student Orientation.Returning mentors must still apply and interview for the position

TRAININGThe Logistics of International Student Mentor Training DaysMandatory two day training in late August/early September.Training at a site distant from main campus but in walking distance.Breakfast, lunch and dinner catered for the two days.Two mentors conduct Boston Logan Meet & Greet; eight plan, implement Hanover student arrivals.One mentor selected to manage distribution student linens shipped to campus.Mentors staff, monitor ISO sessions; plan the student-led and conducted sessions of ISO.

The Content of Mentor Training Sessions Dual purpose: mentor bonding and learning about campus resourcesTraining sessions led by campus partners, and mentors participate in brainstorming, problem solving.Campus partners include OVIS, Student Health Services, OPO, UJAO, DOSS, UDO.Mentor bonding happens in low ropes course led by Outdoor Programs Office staff.Critical sessions include student health resources, and the campus social milieuMentor Program and ISO logistics handled over working lunch meetings.

RESPONSIBILITIESCorrespond with protégés over the summer

Attend the two Mentor Training Days

Mentors “meet & greet” students arriving at Logan airport and Hanover, New Hampshire

Participate fully in International Student Orientation

Frequent correspondence and meetings with protégés during both fall and winter terms

Participate in programming for protégés during both the fall and winter terms

Write brief reports on the status of their protégés at the end of both fall and winter terms

CHALLENGESHigh ratio of new students to mentors (12 to 1) limits one-on-one interactions.

Students are hampered by limited arrival dates and suffer from jet lag, exhaustion.

Maintaining high student attendance at ISO sessions is difficult.

Difficult to sustain volunteer mentor involvement over two academic terms.

Difficult engaging new students after ISO with fast-paced 10 week terms.

Limited funds for fall and winter term programming stymie creativity and interest.

Dartmouth Dining Services cost of feeding mentors over interim is prohibitive

DISTINCTIVE FEATURESMentors make a commitment to participate in both fall and winter terms.

Mentors create and implement several student-focused ISO events, sessions

Two mentors spend two days at Logan meeting and greeting arriving students

Mentors organize a new student talent night following the ISO banquet

Mentor Coordinator plays a key role in selecting his/her successor

New Mentor Coordinator works with ISP director to interview, select new mentors

INDIANA UNIVERSITY PURDUE UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS (IUPUI)

International Peer Mentoring Program

PROGRAM OVERVIEWCreated in 2004 as a simple “buddy-matching” program

21 mentors serving ~ 100 students

Current mentors are about 50% American

Annual base scholarship of $2000 with varying supplements

One Director, one coordinator, other various staff overseeing components

Mentors serve approximately 110 – 130 hours/semester

Mentors selected through group interview process followed by individual interviews

PROGRAM STRUCTURE21 mentors working in teams of 3~12 mentees assigned to each team Focus on pre-arrival assistance, and cultural/social/academic adjustment through

year one

Each mentor works in one of 7 “Responsibility Areas”Orientation AssistantsWelcome Assistants Engineering & Technology Assistants Bridge Program Mentors Program for Intensive English MentorsOutreach AssistantsAcademic Success Coaches

Registration in a mentoring course each semester (U201 – U204)

Event Planning

TRAINING

3-Day off-site training in May with focus on: Professionalism and Conduct Mentoring and Communication Skills Team Building Conflict Resolution

1-Day on-campus Training in August with focus on: Academic Adjustment for International Students Inter-cultural Communication and Cultural Adjustment

Ongoing training through bi-weekly meetings August -April

RESPONSIBILITIESServe on their mentoring team (30-40 hours/semester)

Attend and participate in biweekly meetings (10-12 hours/semester)

Serve in their responsibility areas (30-40 hours/semester)

Plan one of the monthly Coffee Hours each semester (5 hours)

Help organize and attend OIA activities and events (10 hours/semester)

Write monthly team report and personal service hours report (4 hours/semester)

Enroll in a university mentoring course each semester and earn an A (20-25 hours)

Other duties as assigned

CHALLENGES

Maintaining program momentum through Spring

Mentee participation

Team conflict and gossip

Workload

Assessment

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES

Responsibility areas

Cooperation with various departments

Mentoring Courses

Team mentoring structure

Senior Mentors

Focus on mentor leadership development

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - IRVINE International Peer Group

PROGRAM STRUCTURE•Quarterly Themes:- Adjustment- Development- Engagement

Mentors (45) Coordinators (9) Mentees (c.400) Coord Groups Mentor Families Administrative Staff Director Admin. Assistant

TRAININGFall Training Coords: 4 days Mentors: 3 days Team Building “About IPG” Leadership styles Meaning of Mentoring First mentee contact Role Plays Draft Mentoring Action Plan (MAP)

Winter & Spring Staff Development Weekly Staff Meetings

Additional motivation & skill building

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIESMentors One-on-ones with Mentees Weekly check-in sessions Reflection Sessions Mentor Family Activities Personalized communications Documentation: MFA Outlines, Reflection Sheets,

Field Notes Adhere to MAPs Weekly staff meetings

Coordinators Facilitate Reflection Sessions Track Mentor completion of MAP & adhere

to their own MAP Lead Coord group in facilitating staff

meetings Weekly Coord meetings Complete Coord Reports Supervise Mentors

• General back-up• Mentor one-on-ones• Review timesheets, MFA Outlines,

Reflection Sheets, & field notes• Review• Check-in session drop-ins

CHALLENGES

Mentee participation

Student staff management

Coord / Mentor conflict resolution

Campus internationalization

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES

Leadership through mentoring

Family structure

Coords

Integration of Civic & Community Engagement

Reflection sessions

Academic monitoring