Academic Peer Mentoring: Making First-Year Connections Jennifer L. Smith Texas Interdisciplinary Plan University of Texas at Austin

Texas Interdisciplinary Plan Texas Interdisciplinary Plan TIP TIP Scholars (First Year) Mentor AcademyTexas IP Pathways to Graduate Studies

TIP-FY  TIP Scholars is a highly selective academic program for first-year students in the colleges of Liberal Arts and Natural Sciences.  TIP Scholars provides students with a rigorous course of study, an introduction to critical thinking, and a unique blend of academic opportunities and benefits.

Mentor Academy  The TIP Mentor Academy consists of 60 trained undergraduate students from the colleges of Liberal Arts and Natural Sciences.  Their goal is to enhance academic excellence and to encourage a successful transition to the University of Texas at Austin for our 300+ TIP Scholars.

Mentor/Tutor week at a glance  10 possible hours of work during the week  3-5 mentoring hours (group and individual meetings)  2-3 tutoring hours (in lab or on-call)  1.5 administrative hours (consists of hourly training and submitting a mentor update)

Mentor Update  Follow Up is Key  Mentor Updates include a written description of each student. Academically Transition Achievements Concerns Additional information

Mentor/Tutor Certification  CRLA (College Reading and Learning Association)  Regular certification entails 50 hours of student contact and 15 hours of training.  Advanced certification entail 25 additional hours of student contact and 10 hours of additional training.

Range of Training Topics Mentoring  Role of the peer mentor  Professional ethics for peer mentors  Establishing rapport & motivating mentees  Questioning and listening skills  Preparing to Study: time management, organization and class analysis  Campus and community resources & referrals  Conflict resolution  Mentoring boundaries  Cultural awareness

Range of Training Topics Tutoring  Definition of tutoring and tutor responsibilities  Basic Tutoring Guidelines  Setting goals/planning  Techniques for successfully beginning and ending a tutor session  Role Modeling  Active listening and paraphrasing  Compliance with ethics and philosophy of the tutor program  Modeling problem-solving  Communication skills  Critical thinking skills

Training Model Core Content Peer Leadership Student Interaction

Core Content  Choose your training content from your certification guidelines or from your own choosing.  Research that topic within your community and others to find a range of information.  Select key points from your research and determine your “Take home message.”

Peer Leadership  Work with a core group of experienced mentors and tutors to facilitate within your main group of students  Maintaining constant communication with this group will keep you plugged into what is going on with your main group.  Provide an open environment where they are comfortable sharing their feedback.

Student Interaction  Get your main group of students involved; physically, in discussion, individually, etc.  Create a situation in which they experience the key concepts you have just described.  Observe their interactions (talk less and listen more). Your observations and their observations will spark great discussion.

Contact Information  Jennifer L. Smith:  TIP Website:  1 University Station, G2550, GRG 234 University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX 78712