Consider the Whole of Advising: Peer Mentoring in a Residential Learning Environment

Martha B. Lance, Ph.D.Academic AdvisorHonors College (HCOL)University of Vermont

mblance@uvm.edu802-656-9103

Ambitious Session Schedule9 – 9:10 UVM’s Honors College (HCOL) Peer Mentoring

Program History and Evolution

9:10 – 9:20 CRLA Certification

9:20 – 9:50 Build Your Own Peer Mentoring Program

9:50 – 10:00 Conclusions and Sharing of Ideas etc.

UVM Honors College Peer Mentoring Program Evolution

Started about five years ago as a program for FYS

Goal: Create social opportunities and help FYS transition to College. Primarily a one semester program with little carry over into the spring. Attendance at socials dwindled as the first semester progressed.

Fall 2015 major change in programming and intention

Peer mentor program more encompassing as an important arm of advising.

Mentee groups organized around academic majors.

More robust mentor training for CRLA certification.

CRLA Certification Granted February 2016.

HCOL Mentor Program Fall 2014

16 Peer Leaders for approximately 200 FYS

Budget -- $960?

Fall only program! Not a year long program.

Training a couple of hours in April and a couple of hours the Thursday before school began.

Peer Leaders not Peer Mentors

Overseen by a HESA graduate student

HCOL Peer Leader to Peer MentorTransition

Transition (How to get this done? CRLA to the rescue!)

Peer mentor groups organized according to home college and major. More beefy training. More $. More hours (75 hours total). In December, the Provost ponies up an additional $14,000 for CRLA certification and

expansion of the program. This does not include administrative costs. One time allocation? Future staffing?

Professionalization of expectations and PM selection process. Spring 2016 - 26 applications for 11 spots. More rigorous application process. Effort to encourage continuity. 5 PMs returning this spring and fall. Average GPA of PMs this year 3.89. PM tour of duty follows calendar year to allow for students who study abroad. Not just a one

semester wonder.

Message from Interim Dean Lisa Schnellon our

Program’s Transition and the Significance of CRLA Certification

CRLA Certification Provided the Architecture and Tools to Design and Expand our Program

CRLA Mentor Certification Purpose1. Certification sets standards and guidelines for the minimum skills and

training mentors need to be successful.

2. Certification also inspires mentor trainers to go beyond minimum standards to create training programs that challenge mentors to the highest level of expertise they can achieve.

3. Certified training programs offer campus recognition and rewards for mentors’ successful work by certifying mentors trained to the standards of CRLA’s International Mentor Training Program Certification.

Benefits of CRLA Certification

1. Develop a superior mentoring program from scratch by utilizing certification guidelines.

2. Utilize allotted time for development of an individual certification plan to carefully rethink an existing mentoring program, an opportunity for a fresh perspective.

3. Using CRLA guidelines, organize separate training sessions into a coherent curriculum and possibly a credit course.

4. Secure greater student and faculty confidence and respect for the staff and program.

5. Attract highly motivated mentors with CRLA Certification credentials and extensive training. (HCOL mentors’ GPA collectively average out to 3.89!)

CRLA Certification RequirementsIMTPC Level One Certification Requirements (Without CRLA Tutor Certification)

A. MENTOR TRAINING: Minimum of 15 hours

B. TRAINING FORMATS: (one or more required)WorkshopsQuarter or Semester CoursesA combination of one of the above with no more than 3 hours of individualized, self-paced training

C. AREAS/TOPICS TO BE COVERED IN MENTOR TRAININGThe Role of the Peer MentorPeer Mentoring Do's and Don'tsProfessional Ethics for Peer MentorsEstablishing Rapport & Motivating MenteesQuestioning and Listening SkillsPreparing to Study: Organization, Class Analysis, and Time ManagementCampus & Community Resources & ReferralsElectives that you can design or pull from the list on the CRLA Website.

CRLA Certification Requirements ContinuedD. REQUIRED MENTORING EXPERIENCE (50 total hours required)

50 hours of mentoring experience

E. MENTOR SELECTION CRITERIAGPA of 3.0 or higherInterview with the mentor trainer/supervisorTwo or more references from faculty, former supervisors, or counselorsPersonality type assessment (recommended but optional)

F. MENTOR EVALUATION CRITERIAAn evaluation process is in placeEvaluation occurs at least annuallyEvaluation process includes mentees' evaluation of mentorsResults of the evaluation process are made known to mentors

Application Process One time fee of $150.00 for Level 1. There are three levels of certification. Two – four week review process by external reviewers. Excellent communication with CRLA coordinator, Heather Porter. Application on CRLA website is clean and more simple than application for tutor training program certification.

Heather’s contact information is on the CRLA website:

Heather Porter, M.Ed. Assistant Director of Academic Support & Supplemental InstructionCenter for Student AchievementSalisbury University hdporter@salisbury.edu (410) 677-4865

IMTPC CoordinatorCollege Reading & Learning Association (CRLA)www.crla.net

UVM Training Sessions

Highly Interactive

Involved authorities from across the campus

Exposed mentors to campus resources

Encouraged skill building

Listening

Team dynamics

Advising skills

Leadership skills

Holistic attention to student’s academic, social and emotional health

From the Mouths of MentorsAllison shares her wisdom.

From the Mouths of Peer MentorsLauren R. shares her perspective.

From the Mouths of MentorsKathryn, one of HCOL’s senior mentors, reflects upon her experiences.

From the Mouths of MentorsBrendan, HCOL mentor shares his thoughts on mentoring.

Imagine, Envision, and Deploy

Envision Your Peer Mentor Program!WORKSHEET: An Act of Envisioning

1. Take stock of where you are now in your mentoring program. Describe this in a few bullet points.

2.Where do you want to go with your program? What is working well and what is not?

3. What are the unique needs of your institution?

Think Expansively!Do a “flyover” of your institution. Where are the resources that your

students need? That your mentors could help make connections to?

DRAW A PICTOGRAPH OF YOUR MENTORING PROGRAM SURROUNDED BY CAMPUS RESOURCES

What do you need to create and manage a superior Peer Mentor Program?

CRLA Certification is Worth the Effort!

UVM CRLA Peer Mentor Certification Application Contents

Sample of Training Documents PM Assessments and Surveys PM Application Documents Peer Mentor Movies CRLA Application and Program

Narrative Administrative Documents Screenshots of Directories

Peer Mentor Certification Benefits Anyone’s Career and Aspirations

Even ……Presidential Hopefuls

Bernie Sanders

University O f VermontHonors College Peer Mentor Program

certifies that during the Spring of 2016

With a Strong Mentoring Program, your students will thrive!