Texas Lutheran University Peer Mentors:

Not Your Average Orientation Leaders

National Conference on Students In Transition

Atlanta, Georgia

October 2013

Today’s Discussion

An overview of the history of the TLU First Year Experience course and its connection to the Peer Mentor Program

Who are the TLU Peer Mentors?

A description of the Peer Mentor recruitment and selection process

Classroom Experience and Bulldog Orientation (Training and Preparation)

Peer Mentor Duties and Responsibilities

Compass: TLU’s General Education Program

Assessments that keep the program going

Texas Lutheran University “TLU prepares undergraduates academically, spiritually, and

socially in a residential community of faith and learning for

service and leadership.”

Student faculty ratio: 14 to 1

Average class size: 18

Mascot: Bulldogs

Colors: Black & Gold

14 Division III Varsity Sports

33% Athletes

97% first year students live on

campus

60 Student Organizations

Founded in 1891 in

Brenham, Texas

Moved from Brenham to

Seguin, Texas in 1912

35 miles east of San Antonio

and 50 miles south of Austin

Hispanic Serving Institution

Full-time professors serve as

academic advisors

77 full-time faculty

“We’re more than a campus, we’re a community.”

History of the Texas Lutheran’s First Year

Experience Course

We’ve come along way since 1986…

In 1986, a General Education curriculum change took place at then Texas Lutheran College and students were required to take GEC 134: Exploring the Arts and Sciences

Today, the course is called FREX 134: Exploring the Arts and Sciences

Issues that come along:

Students could take the course anytime during their four years

Hard to find instructors to teach the course

And then came 2001-2002…

History of the Texas Lutheran’s First Year

Experience Course

In 2001-2002, under the leadership of Dr. John T. Masterson,

former TLU provost, emphasis was placed on the First Year

Experience

In 2004, the First Year Experience Committee was developed

and the faculty voted to make the freshman experience

course a requirement.

Peer mentors also became part of this package.

Peer Mentors would teach topics related to transitional issues

while faculty would focus more on their discipline and area of

expertise.

What is a TLU Peer Mentor?

Peer Mentors assist first year students during orientation and throughout the first year with

their personal and academic transition into the TLU community!!!

Peer Mentors are passionate about TLU and have a genuine interest in helping students –

inside and outside the classroom.

Benefits of Being a Peer Mentor

Offer an upperclassmen perspective

Help students become successful

Great way to meet new people

Share experiences and offer support An opportunity to work closely with other students and TLU faculty

members

Enhance public speaking and leadership skills (coordinating events, facilitating discussions, organizing study sessions, etc.)

Helps students gain an appreciation for diversity

Learn more about campus resources

Great resume builder!

Peer Mentor Incentives

$1000 = $500 Peer Mentor Grant awarded on the University financial

aid award package for fall and spring semesters.

Peer Mentors also receive a bi-weekly stipend which is divided

equally into 20 pay periods for fall and spring semesters.

Bi-weekly stipends vary based on your years on the team:

1st year = $50

2nd year = $60

3rd year = $70

4th year = $80

Contracts are subject to termination if a Peer Mentor does not

fulfill duties and responsibilities outlined within the position.

Peer Mentor Selection Process Peer Mentor recruitment takes place in the Spring Semester.

February The Peer Mentors and Director of First Year & Campus Programs host information

sessions – students must be present to receive an application

Application components:

Resume

Typed responses to the following: Why are you interested in becoming a Peer Mentor and what will you bring to the position?

Share a memorable experience from your first year at TLU.

What issues do you think are relevant to first year students at TLU?

Why do you think the Peer Mentor program exists?

Describe your leadership style.

Recommendation letters from 2 faculty members

Any instructor of their choice

Their FREX 134 instructor

Department Verification:

GPA

Disciplinary actions

Peer Mentor Selection Process

March Group interviews: students participate in a series of

activities for current Peer Mentors and staff to see how

they interact in groups and in certain situations.

Individual interviews: if a student does well in the group

interview, they will be invited to have an individual

interview.

For TLU’s 2014-2015 recruitment, all applicants will be

notified via email on their selection the week before

Spring Break.

Peer Mentor Selection Process

Do Veterans Have To Reapply?

Yes – current Peer Mentors have to reapply to return to the team.

Peer Mentors who wish to reapply to the team cannot participate

in the group and individual interviews for new applicants.

.

They’re Selected…Now What?

Spring Semester

Attend mandatory Welcome Orientation (April)

Attend SL3 New Member Orientation and Peer Mentor

Summer Training (April) SL3 stands for Student Life & Learning Leaders. The group consists of Student

Government Association Senators, Peer Mentors, Resident Assistants, Tutors

and Supplemental Instructor Leaders.

Summer Break

Connect with students on First Year Students page

Attend Peer Mentor Training (August – week before fall

classes)

Participate in 2-Day Bulldog Orientation and Welcome Week

The First Year Students portal page is a

great way to bond and get to know other 1st

year Bulldogs!

Students can get to know their FREX 134

Peer Mentor before Bulldog Orientation.

The personalized pages help the students learn a

little more about our campus leaders!

Students also have a chance to

bond and connect with all the Peer

Mentors on the blog portlet!

In August, students receive a

Bulldog Orientation postcard from the

Peer Mentor Team.

Summer Is Over…Peer Mentor Training Begins!

Peer Mentor training is held the week prior to the start of the fall semester. Throughout the week, Peer Mentors focus on such topics as:

History of TLU and the Peer Mentor Program Daily teambuilding icebreakers It’s Just Lunch Differences between high school vs. college and the shoulda, coulda, woulda’s Classroom management Group facilitation – communication is key among the 20 Campus resources FREX 134 topics

Mandatory FREX 134 Topics:

Differences Between High School vs. College TLU Technology Time Management Academic and Vocational Planning Understanding the Purpose of Higher Education

Optional FREX 134 Topics:

Diversity Academic Policies and Resources Health and Campus Safety Helpful Study Techniques

Peer Mentor Training – “Special Presentation”

Wish each other the best as we embark on New Student Orientation and FREX 134

Summer Is Over…The Pups Are Coming!

In addition to preparing for the FREX 134 experience, Peer Mentors serve as orientation leaders.

For 2 days, Peer Mentors are responsible for:

Organizing teambuilding activities

Serving as ushers for the Matriculation Ceremony

Performing our Campus Issues Skit

Taking students on a Campus Tour

Encouraging students to attend TLU Weeks of

Welcome activities

Key Peer Mentor Duties and Responsibilities

Fall 2013

Assist faculty member in the FREX 134 course

Teach a minimum of 5 lessons in the FREX 134 course

Attend monthly supervisor and staff meetings

Present information in monthly module meetings (August – November)

Organize 1 monthly activity and/or program for first year students Be available for formal and informal interaction with students in the program

(3-6 week checks, discuss performance and attendance in FREX 134 class, etc.)

Attend Leadership Team Meetings

Spring 2014 Assist with spring orientation Attend the First Year Welcome Back Dinner Meet once a month with FREX 134 group Organize 1 monthly activity and/or program for first year students Assist with Major ’s Fair promotion Prepare end of the year activities for First Year Celebration

The Paw Print Activity Module In Fall 2012, TLU made a few changes to the General

Education curriculum and we welcomed Compass.

The Paw Print Activity Module

Activity Modules give students an opportunity to apply the knowledge they have gained in class to activities outside the classroom and in the community.

First Semester at TLU the students taking FREX 134 enroll in the

Paw Print Module

Meetings are once a month for one hour This module helps students understand the General Education

Curriculum (Compass) and create their Comprehensive Education Plan

Students have to take 4 modules before they graduate

Register for one module with each semester when they register for classes

Students are encouraged to complete all 4 modules by the end of

the sophomore year

The Paw Print Module

THE CONNECTIONS

Texas

Lutheran

Peer Mentors

(20)

Students Faculty

First Year

Students

Portal Page

Compass

Program

Division of

Student Life

& Learning

Orientation

TLU

Community

What Keeps The Program Going…Assessment!

Assessments are administered by the Peer Mentors in the FREX 134 course. Students are tracked by their TLU ID#.

Orientation & Welcome Week = administered after Weeks of

Welcome; How was the experience?

First Year Survey = around the 2-3 week of school; How’s your experience thus far; Are you still committed to this journey; Are you participating in on-campus activities; Are you utilizing campus resources, etc.

FREX Assessment (*) = last week of school; an assessment of linked courses, TLU Reader, etc. – the overall experience in FREX 134

(*) – Big survey for us.

FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE

FALL 2012 ASSESMENT RESULTS

The First Year Experience Evaluation was administered by the Peer Mentors to all first year students

through their FREX134 courses. Of the 374 students enrolled in FREX134, 323 evaluations were

completed, yielding an 86% response rate. The assessment was used to evaluate the students’

perspectives of the Peer Mentor program, their individual Peer Mentor, the common text (The TLU

Reader), their experiences in linked sections, and their overall transition into TLU. Following are a

few results from this evaluation.

Strongly

Disagree Disagree Agree

Strongly

Agree

Positive

Responses

My peer mentor treated me with respect

1.3% 3 1% 76 24% 243 75% 319 99%

My peer mentor was concerned for my academic

success

1.3% 3 .9% 110 34% 204 63% 314 97%

My peer mentor was knowledgeable about campus

resources

2 .6% 1.3% 87 27% 232 72% 319 99%

My peer mentor kept me informed of upcoming

university activities and events

2 .6% 6 2% 101 31% 211 65% 312 97%

I believe my peer mentor helped my transition into

college 3 .9% 14 4% 139 43% 157 49% 296 92%

FREX ASSESSMENT: FALL 2012 RESULTS

Strongly

Disagree Disagree Agree

Strongly

Agree

Positive

Responses

I made a successful transition

into college life 4 1% 6 2% 137 42% 159 49% 296 92%

TRANSITION INTO COLLEGE

Students were asked if they made a successful transition into college life. Overall the results were

positive with 94% of the students agreeing with the statement below.

Yes…Peer Mentors do ALL this and still

juggle school, work, athletics, family…

They are all

about building

GREAT

college memories

for first year

Bulldogs!

Peer Mentors are also awarded along the way

In addition to their bi-weekly stipend and Peer Mentor Grant Award, • TLU flash drives • Family Dinner - the night before Orientation! • 3 shirts (Peer Mentor polo, personalized for orientation, and SL3) • FREX Appreciation Lunch (December) • Peer Mentor End of the Year Banquet (April)

It’s Never A Dull Moment in the life of a

TLU Peer Mentor

Questions???

For additional information on the TLU Peer Mentor Program, contact

Malikah Pitts Harvey, Director of First Year Campus Programs at

mharvey@tlu.edu; 830-372-6040.