1. Peer Mentoring in STEM: Training for Mentors
Barbara A. Fink, O.D., Ph.D.
Kaitlyn Murray
The Ohio LSAMP Alliance

2. Peer Mentoring in STEM: Training for Mentors
Importance of Peer Mentoring in LSAMP
Peer Mentor Training Program at OSU
Peer Mentor Training MOOC

3. Importance of Peer Mentoring In LSAMP
Tinto Model: academic and social integration
Community building
Prevent feeling of isolation
Improve sense of belonging
Connection to their academic institution
Celebrate the successes of the community
Advisement
Academic support
Monitoring

4. Importance of Peer Mentoring In LSAMP
Disciplinary socialization (professionalization)
Voluntary self-development activities
Attending workshops
Joining organizations
Networking with peers
Voluntary learning opportunities
Professional identity development

5. Importance of Peer Mentoring In LSAMP
Westat Report
Residential summer bridge programs
Undergraduate research
Mentoring (peer and faculty)
Drop-in centers
Caring staff

6. Importance of Peer Mentoring In LSAMP
“Students were most enthusiastic about having a peer mentor during their first 1 years in college, because some found it difficult to relate to faculty mentors and were especially uncomfortable in discussing personal problems.”
“[Peer mentoring] activities…are designed to help students deal with academic problems, acquaint them with the campus culture, and be alert to the ever-present dropout danger.”

7. Importance of Peer Mentoring In LSAMP
Commitment to Major
Undergraduate research
Attending professional conferences
Involvement in and satisfaction with major
Persistence in STEM
Attainment of STEM degrees

8. Importance of Peer Mentoring In LSAMP
Benefits to URM students at predominantly White institutions:
Inspired by students who look like them
Role models
Improve self-confidence
Navigate feelings as they attend classes and laboratories with few minority students

9. Importance of Peer Mentoring In LSAMP
Influence on community college students’ academic and transfer success
Connection to four-year institution
Familiarity with university resources
Development of transfer plans

10. LSAMP Programming at The Ohio LSAMP Alliance
Advisement and Counseling
Bridge/Early Arrival Programs
Tutoring or Supplemental Instruction
Peer Mentoring
Faculty Mentoring
Undergraduate Research
Professional Development Workshops

11. Peer Mentor Program at OSU
Job Description:
A peer mentor is a connection to the university for an incoming student
Junior or Senior LSAMP Scholars
Minimum GPA: 2.8
Matched with freshmen, community college, or transfer students
Participate in activities to transition students socially and academically into OSU and STEM major
Pay: $10.00/hour for 5-10 hours/week

12. Peer Mentor Program at OSU
Characteristics of Peer Mentors:
Positive attitude and genuine interest in inspiring students for success
Interest in working with people from diverse backgrounds
Professionalism
Desire to promote earning a degree in STEM

13. Peer Mentor Program at OSU
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Excellent knowledge of campus and community resources
Experience working in teams or groups in a leadership capacity
Ability to communicate effectively with diverse populations of students
Ability to establish priorities and work with some level of independence

14. Peer Mentor Program at OSU
Application
Consider the challenges or barriers to success a student might face in transferring to a new university. Please identify 2 specific challenges and how you, as a peer mentor, would empower a new student to overcome them.
Please discuss why you have selected your major and your future career goals.

15. Peer Mentor Program at OSU
Application
Please attach a résumé or CV in .pdf format
Please attach one letter of recommendation from your institution’s principal investigator.
Please attach a 500-word letter of interest detailing the skills you currently possess that make you successful in this position and what you hope to gain form being a peer mentor.

16. Peer Mentor Program at OSU
Application: other considerations
Current institution
Other institutions attended (transfer from community colleges)
Major
Ability and willingness to travel to other institutions

17. Peer Mentor Program at OSU
Goals of Peer Mentoring Program:
Engage mentees in academic and social community
Help mentees utilize the tools and resources of the university to help them achieve academic success
Strengthen relationships between mentees and faculty and staff
Help mentees develop an interest in conducting undergraduate research and engage in their STEM discipline

18. Peer Mentor Program at OSU
Roles of the Peer Mentor
Knowledgeable and experienced guide
Caring and thoughtful facilitator who provides access to people, places, experiences, and resources
Role model who exemplifies in word and deed what it means to be an ethical, responsible, and compassionate person
Trusted ally or advocate
Peer Mentoring Resource Booklet, Gordon Nakagawa

19. Peer Mentor Program at OSU
A peer mentor is not:
A social worker or therapist
An academic or career advisor
A tutor
A solution to all problems

20. Peer Mentor Program at OSU
Training of Peer Mentors:
Peer Mentoring in STEM: Training for Mentors
Title IX Preventing Sexual Misconduct
Institution Data Policy
FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)

21. Peer Mentor Program at OSU
Responsibilities of Peer Mentors:
Establish positive personal relationships
in-person meetings
6-10 mentees
minimum of 4 times/semester
Help mentees develop life skills through exploration of campus and community resources
Assist in case management by maintaining communication with peer mentor program staff

22. Peer Mentor Program at OSU
Responsibilities of Peer Mentors:
Awareness of and ability to interact with other social and cultural groups
Goal Development Plans
Establish goals with mentees
Develop plan to support mentee in achieving goals
Determine any support that might be needed to help mentee achieve the goal

23. Support Personnel Graduate Associate Ongoing support
Content and role-specific questions
Management of forms
One on One meetings
Check in
Goal development and strategic planning
Creating space for collaboration

24. Goal development Conceptualize situational needs as life skills
Shift the focus from product to process
Help [student] get in with disability services and other university resources she needs
Understanding and navigating large organizations or bureaucracies through the use of gatekeepers and influencers
Academic
Social
Wellness

25. Example of Goal Development Plan
Goal: To have mentee become more involved in campus groups and communities, aid her in finding research or at least identify a potential project that she would like to pursue and help her look for faculty mentors and grants to fund that research, and to cater to any social needs that she may have, especially since she is a commuter.

26. Example of Goal Development Plan
Plan: Having established a personal connection with my mentee and created an environment where we both feel comfortable sharing personal information with each other, my next step is to get her more involved in groups on campus that can help her both socially and academically. My plan is to begin by accompanying her to LSAMP sponsored events, but then to branch out into other venues as well.

27. Example of Goal Development Plan
Plan: I hope to connect her with some of my past mentors who have done research, which is what she seems very interested in. I hope that by introducing her to these people that she will have more social and academic connections. If we cannot attend an event together, I am more than happy to host a get-together with both parties and discuss topics that are of interest to my mentee and that my connections may be able to shed more light on.

28. Example of Goal Development Plan
Timeline:
Between the second and third week of November, attend either and LSAMP or a professional development event with Jaelyn to aid in her academic and professional growth
Before the end of November, to connect her with Neuroscience major who has conducted research to aid her in guidance with research for both laboratory and non laboratory opportunities.

29. Example of Goal Development Plan
Timeline:
By the first week of December, connect her with representatives in the Undergraduate Research Office to find opportunities for research, funding, or a faculty mentor who will construct a project with her
Reading Day of finals (or whatever time is available)- take mentee to Moonlight Market as a study break and assess how mentally, emotionally, and socially she is doing and how she is dealing with exams

30. Example of Goal Development Plan
Support needed from Peer Mentor Program Coordinator:
Contacts from anyone who has done research in the neurological field or film as well. Mentee is very interested in film and would love to see if there is either a lab going on that can combine the two topics, if there is a professor who is interested in helping her facilitate this research, or if she can do an independent project can how to get funding for that.
Contacts and links for research funding grants would also be helpful if that does need to be an option for her

31. Peer Mentoring Participation Activity Form
Date
Time (in minutes)
Activity Description
Summary of Meeting
Submitted to LSAMP Program Coordinator prior to the last day of classes each semester

32. Peer Mentor Program at OSU
Changes peer mentors should observe in their mentees:
Increase in self-confidence
Increase in self-efficacy and solving problems independently
Time management, study, communication, and interpersonal skills
Increased knowledge of campus
Successful social transition to university

33. Peer Mentor Program at OSU
Peer Mentor Code of Ethics
Respect the autonomy and dignity of mentees
Be conscientious of the scope and limitations
Maintain the right to privacy and confidentiality of your students
Avoid conflicts of interest, bias, or dual relationships with students

34. Peer Mentor Program at OSU
Professionalism as a Peer Mentor
Role Model: avoid participating in unethical, illegal, or questionable behavior
Create a culture of acceptance: refrain from gossiping, complaining, or showing bias against students who are different from you
Demonstrate ability to work cooperatively
Present yourself in a professional manner: dress appropriately, be punctual, be prepared for meetings
Model maturity and responsibility in behavior

35. Peer Mentor Training MOOC
This course is intended for junior and senior level undergraduate students who will be working with first and second year underrepresented minority students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics majors at four-year institutions and community colleges. The purpose of this training is to prepare mentors for the critical role they will assume in improving the academic and social transition of their mentees. 

36. Peer Mentor Training MOOC
Home Page:
Description of “Peer Mentoring in STEM: Training for Mentors”
Course Welcome (video)
What Is LSAMP? (video)

37. Course Description Three main areas of training:
Building and managing effective peer relationships
Understanding the transitioning student
Cultural competency in STEM professions

38. Six Course Goals
Understand the responsibilities of the peer mentor and mentee in an effective peer mentoring program
Understand different communication styles and how they affect the ways in which individuals communicate
Know how to manage communication with the mentee

39. Six Course Goals
Understand the academic, social, and cultural transition to college for various student populations
Have an appreciation for diversity, and to be able to serve as a mentor and ally in diversity and inclusion for mentees
Understand the university and community resources that support academic, social, and cultural transition

40. Peer Mentor Training MOOC
Modules
Module 1: Introduction Peer Mentoring
Module 2: Building the Relationship with your Mentee
Module 3: Introduction to Student Development Theory

41. Peer Mentor Training MOOC
Modules
Module 4: Working with Community College and Transfer Students
Module 5: Supporting Academic and Social Transition to College
Module 6: Cultural Competence

42. Components of Each Module
Module Overview
Introductory Video
Module Objectives
Module Content
What to View and Read
Narrated Power Point Presentation and PDF
Videos
Reading assignments

43. Components of Each Module
What to Work On
Surveys/Inventories
Writing Assignments (reflections)
Quizzes
Things to Discuss
Reflections on questions
Additional Resources
References
Links

44. Additional Components of MOOC
Welcome Survey
User Experience Survey (after Module 4)
Final Project
Peer Mentor Training Post-Assessment

45. Peer Mentor Training MOOC