What are the best practices for training and supporting peer mentors in advising?

Holding a training at the outset of the semester where you clearly define the role and show peer mentors how to provide good feedback is so important. Modeling the behaviors you want your fellows to emulate also goes a long way!

Students keen on helping their fellow students through peer mentorship have a higher propensity to provide *advising* (that a professional advisor must address), so defining roles, expectations, and the critical difference between an advising question and a non-advising question (that they can address as a peer mentor) is crucial for peer mentorship to work. In the past, I created a handout on advising vs. non-advising questions and gave it to peer mentors so that they have a reference point.

Peer mentors should have a clear understanding of their responsibilities. This includes providing academic, emotional, and social support to their peers, offering guidance on university resources, and helping mentees navigate their academic journey. Expectations should also cover maintaining confidentiality, fostering a positive and supportive environment, and knowing when to refer mentees to professional advisors or other resources. Defining these roles ensures both mentors and mentees have aligned expectations, making the mentoring relationship more effective.

Comprehensive and ongoing training equips peer mentors with the skills and knowledge necessary for effective advising. It includes initial training on advising principles and continuous development opportunities. For instance, mentors might receive training on active listening, confidentiality, and referral processes, followed by regular workshops on new academic regulations or advising techniques. This approach ensures mentors remain competent and confident in their role, providing valuable support to their mentees.

Comprehensive training equips peer mentors with the skills needed to support their mentees effectively. Training should cover communication, conflict resolution, time management, and understanding university policies. Ongoing training allows for continued growth, addressing new challenges, and refining mentoring techniques. Regular workshops, role-playing scenarios, and mentorship from more experienced advisors can help peer mentors stay prepared and motivated throughout their role.

One thing I’ve found helpful is providing comprehensive training that includes both content and process. Training should cover academic policies, active listening, and goal-setting. Regular updates and refresher sessions ensure peer mentors stay informed and effective.

Again, it’s crucial to understand the goal of what you are mentoring your students on backwards and frontwards. The importance cannot be understated.

Provide comprehensive, ongoing training for peer mentors by offering workshops, role-playing scenarios, and regular feedback sessions. Include topics like communication skills, conflict resolution, and resource awareness. Ensure continuous support through check-ins and advanced training to address evolving challenges and enhance their effectiveness.

A supportive environment for peer mentors enhances their effectiveness and job satisfaction. Encouraging collaboration among mentors, creating platforms for them to share experiences, and offering regular feedback ensures they feel valued and connected. Open communication with supervisors, providing emotional support, and recognizing their contributions help to build a positive work environment. This collaboration not only strengthens peer mentor relationships but also positively impacts their ability to support their mentees.

For the peer mentor programme to work and thrive, creating the right environment and support infrastructure for them is crucial. Ensuring transfer of skills, knowledge and best practices amongst peer mentors should be encouraged. Practical learning over theoretical sessions should be the go forward in such areas - networking sessions, working lunches and even volunteer days for targeted audiences could help promote a safe, supportive environment to foster collaboration.

In my experience, creating a supportive and collaborative environment is vital for the success of peer mentors. Peer mentors should have access to supervisors for guidance, feedback, and recognition. Opportunities to connect with other mentors across disciplines allow them to share experiences and best practices, fostering a sense of community. Encouraging mentors to seek help, prioritize self-care, and celebrate their achievements promotes their well-being and effectiveness.

Foster open communication and trust. Encourage regular check-ins and peer feedback. Organize team-building activities. Provide access to resources and training. Recognize and celebrate achievements. Promote a culture of mutual respect and inclusivity. Ensure continuous support from supervisors and staff.

You should always use empirical data and statistics to ensure you are mentoring successfully. For example, over the past four years, I’ve been teaching a law school prep course that I developed. I know it’s a success because 90% of my students have consistently ranked in the top 15% of their class. No student has performed below the curve. And 95% of the students I’ve tutored have finished their semester with a perfect 4.0 GPA.

Evaluate and improve the peer mentor program by collecting regular feedback from mentors and mentees, analyzing performance metrics, and conducting surveys. Hold focus groups for in-depth insights. Use this data to identify areas for enhancement, adjust training modules, and implement new strategies for continuous improvement.

Incorporating diversity and inclusion in peer mentor training ensures that mentors can support a wide range of student experiences. For example, training might cover cultural competency, awareness of different learning styles, and strategies for inclusive communication. This prepares mentors to meet the unique needs of each mentee, fostering an environment where all students feel valued and understood. Such practices not only enhance the advising process but also model the importance of diversity and inclusion within the academic community.

You can do so by recruiting mentors from varied backgrounds, providing training on cultural competency, and promoting inclusive practices. Encourage open discussions about diversity, ensure representation in materials, and create a safe space for all voices. Regularly review and adapt policies to foster an inclusive environment.

In my experience, supporting peer mentors in academic advising requires a balance of training and ongoing guidance: 1- Tailored Training: Customize sessions to mentor needs. ?? 2- Soft Skills Focus: Prioritize empathy and communication. 3- Shadowing: Let new mentors learn by observing peers. ?? 4- Continuous Support: Offer ongoing resources and development. 5- Feedback: Create a two-way feedback culture for growth. 6- Ethical Guidance: Align mentorship with integrity and moral values. ?? Peer mentors thrive when they are empowered with practical and ethical tools. #PeerMentorship #AcademicGrowth #Vision2030 #AgileApproach #UPM

Peer mentors like any other mentors are there to add value to fellow mentees/students. And to be able to really be able to do justice, they need to keep up with their knowledge, skills and competencies to give the best possible advice. Some resources that I have found useful to keep myself abreast with laws, regulations, industry trends etc are - 1. LinkedIn learning 2. These collaborative articles also are a great resource 3. Ted Talks / Pod casts of leaders in the area 4. Another rather useful place to bounce of ideas for me has been Reddit threads on relevant topics

Peer mentors are like student superheroes! But even superheroes need a power boost. Here's how AI can supercharge your peer mentor program: - Personalized Training: AI tailors learning to each mentor's strengths, just like a wise advisor guiding them on their journey. (Think Prophet Muhammad's? encouragement to seek knowledge!) - 24/7 Support: ? AI chatbots become their trusty sidekick, answering questions and offering support anytime, anywhere. - The result? Empowered mentors, confident students, and a thriving academic community! #AI #Education #PeerMentoring

Peer mentors or 'Buddies' as I personally like to call them are a great resource for students and young professionals. Their advice and guidance albeit usually provided in an informal way is invaluable especially given they usually take from experience and that too 'relevant' and recent experience. They have usually been there, done that and therefore can provide guidance first hand. For this however to be effective, the peer mentor and the mentee should establish clear and open communication channels and trust one on another to extract maximum benefit.

Advising?and support are essential for ensuring the achievement and well-being of students. Engaging in proactive and well-informed advising and peer-mentorship fosters an environment of support and empathy, which is crucial for ensuring that students develop a sense of competence and are adequately equipped, accomplished, and content in your programme. These factors have the potential to significantly enhance results for students and graduates. Advising and peer-mentorship can enhance student retention and achievement by offering opportunities to identify and overcome obstacles to student success that encompass academic, interpersonal, and social aspects.

To enhance peer mentor training and support, consider these unique strategies: 1. Leverage Technology: Use digital tools for virtual training and performance tracking. 2. Implement Feedback Loops: Establish a structured process for mentors to provide ongoing feedback and suggest improvements. 3. Facilitate Peer-Led Workshops: Allow experienced mentors to lead sessions, fostering knowledge sharing and leadership skills. 4. Set Goals and Metrics: Define clear objectives and measure success to ensure the program’s effectiveness. 5. Support Emotional Resilience: Provide resources and training on stress management and self-care to help mentors maintain well-being and effectiveness.

Peer mentoring is a supervised process until mentors are experienced enough and it should always include incentives to motivate the mentors