cso webinar: the power of near-peer mentoring
DESCRIPTION
This is a Center for Student Opportunity Best-Practices Webinar for College Partners titled "The Power of Near-Peer Mentoring: Supporting Your First-Generation and Underserved Students"TRANSCRIPT
Best-Practices Webinar Series
The Power of Near-Peer Mentoring:Supporting your First Generation
and Underserved Students
Panelists
Michelle WellmanDirector of Access Center Colorado State University
Shontay Delalue KingDirector of Intercultural CenterBryant University
Joseph ColonAssistant Director of Multicultural AffairsJohns Hopkins University
Moderator: Alexandra EconomouDirector of Partner RelationsCenter for Student Opportunity
Colorado State University
The Dream Project
A student-initiated high school outreach program that connects CSU students with first-generation and low-income students in Fort Collins area high schools to assist in the college admissions process, including: SAT prep, applications, writing essays, applying for financial aid, and finding scholarships.
1. To give these college-bound high school students the assistance they may not receive at home or elsewhere
2. To simultaneously teach CSU students about educational opportunity and social mobility and examine these ideas in the context of Colorado State University
Dual Focus
Fast Facts
•History: Began in 2008 under the leadership of Jim Rawlins; based on the model at University of Washington, Seattle
•Optional participation
•Response Rate: about 80% of eligible high school students participate
•Mentor: Mentee Ratio – 1:2
•Average Time Commitment: 2-4 hours/week
Who are Dream Scholars?
•High school students attending Fort Collins area high schools
•First-Generation, multicultural and/or underserved students
•Must be nominated by high school counselors
•66 scholars in 2011
Who is the Dream Team?
• 34 Students currently enrolled at CSU
• Students who have already demonstrated leadership on campus
• Students who went through the program the previous year
• Have successfully completed a background check
• Gone through a rigorous application and interview process
How are they paired?
Similarity in:
1. Gender
2. Ethnicity
3. Life Experiences
Activities
•Essay writing
•SAT preparation classes
•Signature events
•Admissions weekends at CSU
•1-on-1 with your CSU mentor
Best Practices
1. Dream Team Training
2. “For Students, By Students”
3. Learning from Others
#1: Dream Team Training
•A two-hour weekly class taught by Professor Blane Harding
•Use a syllabus and workbook
•Course Credit
Workbook & Syllabus
#2: For Students, By Students
“We believe in providing vehicles for student leadership and engagement.”
Created for students, by students:
• 100% Volunteer
• 95% Student-Run
Student Leadership Chart
ExpansionClassroomInteraction Administration Community
Development External
CommunicationHigh School Interaction
• CSU Classroom
• TA Experience
• Guest Speakers
• Articles
• Discussions
• Workshops
• Think Tank• Communicate opportunities to engage through: Website Updates Announcements Facebook E-mails• Mentor Recruitment• Signature Events• Retreats
• Social Events
• Chipotle Fridays
• Volunteer Opportunities
• “Community-in-waiting”
• Development
• Partnerships
• Newsletter
• Budget
• Grant Writing
• Expansion into new high schools
• Expansion into other universities
• Promotional Materials
• High School Lead Meetings
• Coordinate High School Visits
• FAFSA Nights
• Scholar Recruitment
#3: Learning From Others
Bringing the success of University of Washington to CSU
CSU 2010 CSU 2011 UW 2010
Dream scholars 18 66 457
Dream team 14 35 207
High Schools/Programs
1 school 2 school 16 schools & programs
Money Raised $0 $1,670 $351,000
Enrolled in Higher Education
12 TBD n/a
Enrolled at CSU 6 TBD n/a
Things to Consider
1. Recruitment as the Byproduct, Not the Goal
2. Teaching Professionalism
#1: Recruitment as Byproduct
NOT THE GOAL!
Last year, one third of the Dream Scholars matriculated at CSU (6 of 18 students)
BUT
The Dream Team helps Dream Scholars attend ANY college of their choice. It is about what is right for the Scholar, not CSU.
#2: Teaching Professionalism
1. Attention to detail and specificity of thought and language
2. Prompt response to communication
3. Attendance that is both on-time and reliable
Bryant University
4MILE
A Peer Mentoring program for domestic and international students of color designed to give them a ‘sense of belonging’ on a predominantly white campus.
4 – 4 years at Bryant University
M – Multicultural
I – International
L – Leadership
E – Experience
Four Pillars
C - Culture
A – Academics
P – Personal Growth
S – Social Development
Who are the Mentees?
125 first year students who represent various cultural backgrounds.
The program is required for international students and strongly recommended for domestic students of color.
Who are the Mentors?
• 32 Current Bryant University students
• Completed Application
• Successful interview process
• Many are graduates of the program
Fast Facts
• History: Founded 10 years ago, originally as an orientation
for international students
• Staffing: Intercultural Center Staff, student mentors, and
volunteer faculty and staff from across campus
• Mentor:Mentee Ratio – 1:5
• Parent/Family Component: During the program week
•Response Rate: Majority of people invited to attend do
Key Components
• Mentor Hiring Process
• Summer Outreach
• Week-long intense program
• Fall and Spring Activities
• Year-long Mentoring
Best Practices
1. Integrating International and Multicultural Students
2. Requiring a Year-Long Commitment
#1: Integration
• Shared experiences amongst underrepresented groups
• Ability to address issues of race
• Cost-Effectiveness relative to outcomes
Source: At Home in the World: Bridging the Gap Between Internationalization and Multicultural Education by Christa L. Olson, Rhodri Evans, Robert Shoenberg, American Council on Education, 2007.
#2: Requiring a Year
•Address transition needs beyond the first week of school
•Adequate time to build relationships between staff and students
•Develop leaders for the upcoming year
Something to Consider
• Hiring mentors with integrity
• Dispelling the ‘Clique’ Myth
Recommended Reading:“Why are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?”: And Other Conversations About Race by Beverly Daniel Tatum
Johns Hopkins University
MAPP
MAPP (Mentoring Assistance Peer Program) focuses on the first year experience by supporting underrepresented freshmen at Hopkins. The program is designed to enhance and develop underrepresented students through several levels of involvement.
Targeted Areas of Support
• Academic Support
• Career Development
• Multicultural education/programming
• Service Learning/Community Service
• Social programming
Fast Facts
•History: Began in 1992 by the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) to support African American, Hispanic/Latinos, Asians, and Native Americans and improve retention
• Optional Participation
•Mentor: Mentee Ratio: 1:5
• Oversight: Leadership Team (5 Veterans) and Assistant Director
Who are MAPP Mentees?
• 165 Domestic (US) and International Freshmen - African American, Hispanic/Latinos, Native American, and Asian/Pacific Islander, etc.
• Made a 1 year commitment and participate in monthly programming (Social, Community Service, Cultural, Academic)
MAPP
MAPP (Mentoring Assistance Peer Program) focuses on the first year experience by supporting underrepresented freshmen at Hopkins. The program is designed to enhance and develop underrepresented students through several levels of involvement.
Who are the Mentors?
• 40-45 upper classmen
• Leaders on campus
• Academically successful
• Selected after a Group Interview and then Individual Interviews
• Trained on diversity topics and effective counseling
How are they paired?
• Major
• Online Questionnaires
Best Practices
1. Bi-Monthly MAPP Mentor Meetings (Mandatory)
2. Semester Program Evaluations
3. Student Committees
#1: Mandatory Meetings
Bi-Monthly Meetings
• 1st meeting of the month: In-service training/Mentor-mentee attendance
• 2nd meeting of the month: Business meeting/Cohort Family programming development
#2: Evaluation
• Interactions between mentors and mentees
• Accessibility of Mentor
• Mentee Participation
• Programming Opportunities
• Overall value of MAPP
• Suggestions for improvement
Conducted at the end of every semester
#3: Student Committees
Committees: Must plan 1 large and 1 small scale event a semester
Targeted committees enhance programming opportunities• Social Programming Committee• Diversity Committee • Academic Committee• Community Service Committee• Selections Committee
Things to Consider
1. Data Collection – It can be hard to get
2. Faculty Buy-In for programming – Again, it can be hard to get
#1: Collecting Data
It can be hard because:• Students have short attention spans• Small return• Everything is now done online
It helps to:• Keep questions short and sweet• Measure their engagement (eg. How many MAPP programs have you attended?)• Create an incentive program for returns (eg. Catered dinner for cohort family)• Though online is easiest, have hard-copy evaluations available• Give immediate feedback to mentors (They can improve tactics immediately)
#2: Get Faculty Buy-In
It can be hard because:• Faculty can be fickle, even if they want to get involved• Faculty schedule does not coincide with student
schedules• Faculty need expectations in writing
It can help to:• Get student references for dynamic faculty• Invite new faculty involved• Keep your requests small
Contact Information
Michelle WellmanColorado State UniversityDirector of Access [email protected](970) 988-4569
Shontay Delalue KingBryant UniversityDirector of Intercultural [email protected](401) 232-6448
Joseph ColonJohns Hopkins UniversityAssistant Director, Multicultural [email protected](410) 516-8730
Alexandra EconomouCenter for Student OpportunityDirector of Partner Relations & [email protected](301) 363-4226