1. Undergraduate Peer Mentor Intern
Together, We are Stronger: The Innovative Development of a Peer Mentor Training Beth Roland, M.A., C.A.G.S., Assistant Director/Learning Specialist Amanda Brown, MHS, LMHC, Associate Director
Problem & Background
Students with disabilities have lower college completion rates than their peers. Only 34% complete four-year degrees within eight years, compared to 51.2 percent of the general population.
The first year student experience is important. When students make connections and utilize resources on campuses, their persistence rate is higher.
Peer mentor programs support new students by connecting them with upper class students who utilize the DRC. They help new students develop self-advocacy skills and connect with campus resources.
UF’s DRC did not offer a formal peer mentor training for their Peer Mentor program until last year.
Students with Disabilities have a lower college completion rate than their peers
They can be supported by:
Connections
Resources
Peer Mentors
Solution – Use of an undergraduate peer
This undergraduate developed the mentor training program
She used her knowledge from previous mentoring experiences
She received internship credit for her work, and developed leadership skills
Her efforts allowed learning specialists to spend less time overall developing and leading the training
Undergraduate Peer Mentor Intern
Solution - Details
Our learning specialists developed the Part 1 of the training
The undergraduate intern developed Part 2 of the training: “Understanding the Mentor Role”, and led this portion of the training
The training lasted 4 hours total
The undergraduate spent a total of 150 hours developing training materials over the summer semester
She first researched other peer mentor programs at UF and at other DRC’s
She then planned the training and incorporated interactive activities and role-playing scenarios for mentors to re-enact
Leadership skills
Previous knowledge
Training
Time & Resources
Provides:
Internship credit
Teaching
Training
Positive Experience
Receives:
Outcomes
9 mentors took the training
All who took pre- and post-feedback survey increased their knowledge about services offered by the DRC, and increased their confidence in understanding their role as a mentor
Challenges included scheduling a 2-day training among busy schedules; two mentors had to miss one day each of the training.
Due to positive feedback, we are offering the trainings online this year as well as increasing our social media support for mentors via a Facebook group.