Core Elements of a Peer Networking Program

Experienced students (peer mentors) take leadership of an individual or small group of students; they assume a certain level of responsibility for an ongoing, defined period of time (usually a term or a semester) in helping the new students negotiate and adjust to the challenges of university with its complexity of norms, values, rules, and academic expectations

The ongoing nature of the relationship between the peer mentor and his/her allocated students will usually take the form of some face to face as well as electronic or phone contact

The purpose of the contact is to offer;

• Answers to questions which the new student might otherwise feel reluctant to ask a staff person. The mentor is helping the new student to maximise adaptive behaviour through providing a safe means of rehearsing questions they may need to put to academic staff.
• A “safety net” to the new students (they know they have someone they can contact if they need support).
• Reminders of events and resources available to new students over their beginning weeks at university.  

Peer mentors are primarily there for social rather than academic purposes.  They have sufficient knowledge of university resources to act as guides and referrers to their student/s

The peer mentors receive training and are expected to provide program staff with feedback on their experiences as peer mentors and the contacts they have with their student/s.

Mentoring provides leadership opportunities and a chance for mentors to practice and develop skills related to the University’s graduate attributes, to problem solve, and to make appropriate referrals.  Mentoring also offers opportunities for social support and integration between new students and with their mentor.