Peer Mentoring

What is Peer Mentoring?

The Peer Mentoring Program helps new students during their first year at Cal U by matching them with upperclassmen, typically in the same major. College is very different from high school, so the peer mentor eases the transition by serving as a support and resource person who provides information, encouragement and guidance.

Did you know that Cal U freshmen who have mentors move on to their second year of college at a 10% higher rate than freshmen without mentors?

The freshman or transfer student assigned to a mentor is called a protégé. The program offers each protégé:

A built-in resource/support person in your major who you can talk to about what to expect when you arrive on campus
A guide to help you find your way around, before and after classes start
A contact who can keep you up to date on requirements and deadlines in your major and campus events
A mentor with similar living arrangements, major, hobbies and/or other interests
A great way to find out how to get involved in campus life, meet new people and still remain on track with academic demands

The mentoring program is NOT:

A tutoring program
Time-consuming
A parent/authority figure telling you what to do
"Just for nerds!"

Applying for a Mentor

Mentors are available to all first-semester students, both freshmen and transfer. However, the number available in each major is limited. Assignments are made on a first-come, first-served basis within each department.

Apply online.

Interested in Becoming a Mentor?

Between 600 and 700 Cal U students volunteer their time to mentor protégés throughout the University. Mentors generally have at least a 2.3 overall GPA and meet requirements of their academic departments. They must also have a genuine desire to help others. Final approval will be by a designated faculty member within the academic department. Each spring, the Peer Mentoring Office sends an all-campus announcement, as well as an e-mail to all protégés, to recruit mentors for the following fall.

Approximately 15 peer mentors also serve as peer mentor coordinators, overseeing 70-80 mentoring relationships. Each coordinator maintains frequent contact with mentors and protégés, answers mentor and protégé questions, and provides early awareness of at-risk students to staff members. Meet the peer mentor coordinators.

Call or e-mail the mentoring program with any questions.

The Peer Mentoring Program

724-938-1682

mentoring@calu.edu

Karen Posa Amrhein, Director
amrhein_k@calu.edu

Dori Eichelberger, Assistant Director
eichelberger@calu.edu

Monika Pankratz, Secretary
pankratz@calu.edu