An important aspect of academic success is advising. The generic form of advisement at UMBC has been through faculty advisors and the satisfaction by the student body varies per student. However, a resource that could be valuable to student advisement is Peer Mentoring. An avenue where upper-classmen can use their experience in guiding lower-classmen in their academic endeavors.I am very aware some programs on campus have a peer mentoring program and that is great! We are looking at the possibility of creating a campus-wide peer mentoring program that will be a resource to all students!
A Peer Mentor/Protege would help their mentee(s) in making a personalized four-year academic plan and picking the right classes. They will also be useful in recommending professors, scholarships, internships and other academic related affairs. A Peer Mentoring program, if established at UMBC, would not replace but complement the faculty advisors in creating an environment where every UMBC student will have the information and confidence they need to make decisions regarding their academic pathway.
I and a group of passionate students have already started talking to the administration about the possibility of a campus-wide Peer Mentoring Program at UMBC and are also devising a feasible plan. I am putting up a survey to gauge the interest of the student body concerning such a program being implemented at UMBC. Although a lot of students and faculty that I and my team members have spoken to are receptive and excited about this initiative, we thought it wise to introduce the idea to the whole population of students to gauge interest. The logistics of how the program will function is in the works and I am also open to any ideas concerning this initiative.
Whether you are a Freshman or Super-Senior, please fill the survey and let's get your input! Below is the link to the survey! I promise it only takes about 45 seconds, not even up to a minute!