| Supplemental
Instruction Programs (SRP)
The Peer Network
The SRP office houses four retention programs, Supplemental
Instruction (SI), the Peer Network, REACH, and Critical
Literacy. The Peer Network is a mentoring program that
pairs experienced students with new freshmen with the
goal of helping them adjust to being college students.
Mentors provide their mentees with information about
the campus and classes plus give them some basic survival
skills for being successful students. The mentors also
give mentees an opportunity to have a connection on
campus and they often develop a lasting friendship.
Peer mentors are recruited from the SI program, instructor
referrals, and the work-study program. Mentors must
attend a training workshop before becoming a mentor.
The training workshop covers general topics like “what
is a mentor” and more specific topics like “listening
skills”. Peer mentors also learn more about on-campus
resources as one of their roles is to refer mentored
students to other services as needed.
Mentees usually sign up for the program during new
student orientation and are assigned a mentor shortly
after their sign up date. Peer mentors call students
and set up a meeting with their mentees on campus;
the first meeting may be a campus tour or a chance
to talk.
The success of the Peer Network depends both on the
commitment from the mentor and interest of the mentees.
Some mentors/mentees meet regularly or have extensive
e-mail contact. Others may only have a few questions
but having a mentor allows them to ask those questions
from an experienced student.
Over 30 students signed up for mentor program this
semester and many of these students are connecting
with their mentors, either through face-to-face meetings,
phone calls or e-mail.
Students who are interested in participating either
as a mentor or mentee should contact the SRP office
in HH 425 or call 981-4296. We'd also welcome referrals
from instructors and departments.
Check our most recent SRP newsletter at: http://www.iun.edu/~supple/newsletters/2007/SRP_Newsletter_Vol_1_Issue_2_Summer-Fall.pdf |
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