STW: Peer Mentor

The Math and Science First Learning Community (LC) is looking for Peer Mentors for the upcoming academic year. In this role, you will help incoming first-year students adjust to college life and navigate their STEM majors. Working alongside the LC Coordinator and faculty, you will support students in the classroom, help organize community events, and serve as a knowledgeable campus guide. This is a great opportunity to build practical leadership skills while helping peers succeed.

Qualification of Peer Mentor

Required

• Major in one of the following areas: Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Geology, Environmental Science, or Meteorology.
• Successfully completed CHEM 1251 (must be complete by Fall 2026)

Preferred:

• 8 overall GPA or better
• Sociable personality, willing to interact regularly with students

Responsibilities for Peer Mentor

• Complete Peer Mentor TA training
• Assist in the LC Freshman Seminar (COSC 1600)
  • Occasional presentations
  • Helping students learn and work on course activities
• Read the assigned books/articles for the COSC 1600 course in order to help encourage discussion among class members.
• Organize some LC events such as study groups, lunch or dinner meetups, study hours, social events, out-of-class activities
• Assist Coordinator in facilitating activities for the learning community
• Actively serve as a peer mentor for the LC first-year students, meeting with students throughout the semester outside of class and/or holding drop-in hours for general student guidance.
• Serve as a guide for students, helping whenever appropriate or referring students to appropriate campus resources.
• Act as a role model for students; leading by example in all class and learning community meetings and events.
• Take initiative to regularly research what is happening on campus with the mindset of looking for things that would benefit the freshmen LC members. Using this knowledge to plan LC events, send LC emails encouraging the students to be involved on campus.
• Upholding the Confidentiality Agreement.
• Maintaining an above-average overall GPA.
• Exhibiting a respectable demeanor in accordance with university expectations and policies.
• Keeping track of hours in order, including submitting hours on time and not going over agreed upon hours.

Required Availability

• The position will begin in Fall 2026 (August 10, a week before the beginning of the semester). Planning to continue in the position for the Spring 2027 Semester is also preferred.
• The number of hours for the Fall semester is estimated at 2-4 hours per week. For the Spring semester, it is estimated 1-2 hrs per week.
• The peer mentor should be available to attend the Tuesday class periods of the COSC 1600 section for the learning community, as a majority of their workload for the Fall involves mentoring in the context of this course. The course is scheduled for Tuesdays 1 - 2:15pm (in-person, on campus).
• The peer mentor will be involved in the planning of the events/ co-curricular activities and will be able to express their preferred timing of events. Once the events are planned, it would be expected for the Peer Mentor to be in attendance, unless discussed with the coordinator ahead of time.