UCD Peer Mentor Handbook

UCD PEER MENTORHANDBOOK

September 2014

602 peer mentors welcoming

4650 first years to UCD.

The Peer Mentor Programme helped me to develop as a person,

I love helping others which somehow made me feel fulfilled that I was able

to help incoming first years.

I believe my communication and organisation skills have benefited hugely

as the programme provided great experience to develop them.

CONTENTS1 What is Mentoring? 1

2 Peer Mentoring in UCD 2

3 Mentor Skills Training 5

4 Peer Mentoring Website 10

5 Mentor Activities 11

6 Mentor Activity Plan 12

7 Campus Tour Tips 14

8 My Mentees 15

9 UCD Supports 18

What isMENTORING?

A mentor is a guide who assists people who are undergoing transition. Having gone through such experiences themselves, mentors share with others what they have learned and offer advice and support throughout the process.

Over time, and with the mentor’s help, a mentee develops a greater understanding of the challenges facing them and gains confidence in their own ability to deal with new experiences.

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Peer Mentors have been a very important part of UCD since 2006. As a Peer Mentor you are a positive role model to your mentees and will offer peer support, guidance, and practical help to them.

In your role, you will help make coming to UCD a more welcoming less, daunting experience. As well as arranging informal meetings and social events for your mentees, you will also be available to assist with any queries or concerns which they may have. You will be supported by your Student Adviser or Student Engagement Officer along the way.

PEER MENTORING in UCD

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• help news students make friends and settle into their course

• encourage new students to get involved in social activities

• prepare new students for first year by encouraging them to develop specific study skills

• reassure new students when it comes to concerns they may have about starting college

• support new students in solving problems which at the start of Stage 1 can seem very difficult but which, with the right help, can be easily addressed

• provide a space where new students can ask questions, no matter how big or small they may seem

• assist new students in navigating the various academic and personal supports that are available to them in UCD

• enhance the overall quality of the first year experience

• equip Peer Mentors with organisational, communication and leadership skills which are valuable transferable skills for your future

The UCD Peer Mentoring Programme aims to:

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YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES as a Peer Mentor:• meet with your mentees during Orientation and

create a schedule of meetings/ social events throughout the first semester

• maintain regular contact with your Student Adviser/ Student Engagement Officer on issues of importance

• demonstrate a committed approach to the role

• listen to the needs of your students, either as a group or individually, and provide an appropriate and timely level of support or referral

• log your mentor activities on your UCD SISweb account

• attend debriefing meetings with your Student Adviser/ Student Engagement Officer and provide feedback when requested

• help new students to access the University’s support services where appropriate. This is an important role for a Peer Mentor. Sometimes students can be reluctant to seek help. A little encouragement from a fellow student is often all it takes to overcome this difficulty

• represent yourself and the University in a constructive, helpful and positive way

• participate in the evaluation of the programme when it is over

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YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES as a Peer Mentor:

Key Mentor Skills Reflection

Communication

Organisation & Planning

Openness

Giving information

Motivation

Support

Confidence

Self-care and Boundaries

MENTOR SKILLS3As Peer Mentors, you develop and improve a number of important skills. During your training, you identify your strengths in these areas and explore how you can further develop these skills and gain confidence throughout the mentoring programme.

Training

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Organisation & PlanningEvaluate my strengths

How can I further develop this skill?

OpennessEvaluate my strengths


CommunicationEvaluate my strengths


MENTOR SKILLSTraining

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ReflectionEvaluate my strengths


Self-Care and BoundariesEvaluate my strengths


MotivationEvaluate my strengths


MENTOR SKILLSTrainingTraining

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Giving InformationEvaluate my strengths


SupportEvaluate my strengths


Confidence BuildingEvaluate my strengths


MENTOR SKILLSTraining

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My Mentor StoryUse this section to reflect on and write about your own experiences of coming to college, include the insights you’ve gained and the challenges you’ve faced. Sharing your story with your mentees is a great way to help them settle into college.

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The UCD Peer Mentoring website is a public website with information about UCD’s peer mentor programme.

There will be a mentors section on this website with further resources and information that will assist you with your role throughout the year.

Specifically you will find sections on:

• the various support services available to all students in UCD

• important contact details• suggestions for a campus tour• information on mentor skills development• ideas for mentor activities• news for mentors

PEER MENTORING4

www.ucd.ie/peermentoring

website

Responsible social media usageMentors will adhere to the UCD Student Code at all times, incuding activities on social media. The policy on social media engagment is available on the peer mentoring website.

Find us on facebook and twitter

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• Go to a sports class together

• Have a meeting to share study tips

• Organise a tour of Dublin city

• Have a picnic lunch by the lake

• Go on a woodland walk

• Visit the bookshops on campus

• Hold a ‘how to use blackboard’ session

• Meet for a coffee

• Go to a debate on campus

• Support one of UCD’s many sports teams by going to one of their games / matches

MENTOR5

Introduce your mentees to UCD and college life through a range of informal and formal activities. When selecting activities choose ones that encourage your mentees to talk, ask questions, become friends and get to know more about UCD. This can be as simple as meeting up for a cup of coffee or going for a walk around the campus.

Activities

There are so many things to do on campus. Here are a few low cost / no cost suggestions...

By posting your successful activities on our Peer Mentoring Facebook page hopefully we’ll generate a range of other ideas.

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Some of your Orientation activities will be assigned to you. However feel free to use the sheet on the next page to plan other activities for your group during Orientation and for the rest of the mentor programme.

This Activity Plan represents your commitment to your mentor role. Use your plan to keep track of your activities.

As you complete your activities, don’t forget to log them in your SISweb page for recognition!

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A mentoring relationship requires a certain amount of structured activities to encourage mentee engagement. Use this space to plan the types of activities you intend to organise for your mentees throughout the programme.

MENTORActivity Plan

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SEPT Orientation (examples below but you might have other activities you wish to do)

• Ice breakers• Share your story about coming to

UCD• Team building• Getting to know the campus• Important services • Other ideas?

SEPT AFTER ORIENTATION

OCT

NOV

DEC

ACTIVITY DATE/ TIME

PREPARATION / RESOURCES NEEDED

MENTOR Activity PlanSE

ME

STE

R 2

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CAMPUS TOUR7 TIPSIntroduce yourself and inform the group on how long the tour is and what is involved

Say a few words about why you came to UCD and some interesting facts about yourself

Before beginning the tour, ask the group a few questions on what they are interested in seeing in UCD and what they have heard about the university

Be enthusiastic and approachable

If you can, try and address the students by name and hold good eye contact

As you are walking allow people to ask questions

Say ‘Hello’ to other mentoring groups as you meet them

When appropriate, use gentle humour – don’t get bogged down with figures and facts. The students will want to hear about the ‘real’ UCD

Project your voice so that it can be heard clearly by all

It is preferable that you walk backwards facing the group as you talk throughout the tour, but if you find this difficult then stop for a few mintues and talk facing the group

Demonstrate a positive feeling about the university; new students will sense it immediately

Make sure to show them areas specific to their programme

Use the path or the grass area to talk to the group before starting the tour

When going in or out of the building, lead the way as this saves time an doesn’t leave the group wondering where to go

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8NAME EMAIL PHONE

•

MY MENTEES

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9 UCD SUPPORTSPEER MENTORING Where: Across campuswww.ucd.ie/peermentoring

Activities:

• Orientation support• Student led group support • Social activities• Peer led sharing of college

experiences• Campus tours, library tours• Information for students• Referrals to other supports

STUDENT DESKWhere: Tierney Buildingwww.ucd.ie/registry/adminservices/studentdesk

Services:

• Form stamping• Transcripts• Fees• Admissions• Certificates of Attendance• Assessment Queries • Online official documentation

STUDENT ADVISERSWhere: Across Campus www.ucd.ie/studentadvisers

Services:

• Individual advice and support• Practical information for students• Financial advice and assistance• Assistance for students with

university policies such as Extenuating circumstances, student complaints, assessment appeals

• Referrals to other university services

• Advice on withdrawal from programme

• Peer Mentoring

BA STUDENT ENGAGEMENT OFFICERWhere: G002 Newman Buildingwww.ucd.ie/balinkedup

• Engagement activities and supports for BA students

• Peer Mentoring

STUDENT HEALTHWhere: Student Centrewww.ucd.ie/stuhealth

Services:

For a fee: GP consultation, contraception, STI screening, cervical smear, Gardasil, Implanon, sports clinic, travel clinic, vaccinesFree services: counselling, alcohol counsellor

UCD RESIDENCESWhere: Merville Residencewww.ucd.ie/residences

Services:

• Campus accommodation• Residential activities (Res Life

Programme)• Off campus booking support

(www.ucdaccommodationpad.ie/Accommodation)

MATHS SUPPORT CENTREWhere: James Joyce Library mathsci.ucd.ie/mathsupportcentre/ucdwebpage/index.html

Services:

Free drop in informal maths support for students

LIBRARYwww.ucd.ie/library

• Borrowing books• Online catalogue• IT services• Laptop loans• Information desk• Group study rooms• Individual study rooms

WRITING CLINICSWhere: James Joyce Library www.ucd.ie/library/supporting_you/support_learning/librarylink/writing

Services:

Free drop in informal academic writing support for students

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PROGRAMME OFFICESWhere: Across Campus

www.ucd.ie/programmeoffices.htm

• Module registrations and substitutions

• Programme Information• Stage Progression• Repeat / Resit registrations• Extenuating circumstance

applications• Programme requirements and

compliance• Withdrawal from programme and

leave of absence applications• Transfer of credits from previous

study• Recognition of Prior Learning

U CARDWhere: Library Building (beyond Readers Deli)www.ucd.ie/ucard

U Cards are the UCD Student ID Card and can also be used for library entry, purchasing items at various retail outlets across campus, photocopying and printing, laundry in residences .

• Issuing U Cards• Replacement U Cards• Topping up U Cards• Queries regarding U Card Balances

CHAPLAINSwww.ucd.ie/chaplaincy

Services:

• Personal support• Volunteering• Worship• Financial advice and assistance• Support student religious groups

ACCESS CENTRE – DISABILITY SERVICESWhere: James Joyce Library Building – level 1www.ucd.ie/openingworlds/ucdaccesscentre

Services:

• Needs assessment for disability supports

• Advice for students to successfully manage their disability

• Exam accommodations

UCD STUDENTS UNIONWhere: Student Centrewww.ucdsu.ie

Services:

• Campaign for student issues• Forums• Executive committee• Welfare office• Education office• Class reps• Shops and services

INTERNATIONAL OFFICEWhere: Gerard Manley Hopkins Buildingwww.ucd.ie/international

Services:

• Supporting incoming and outgoing exchange students

• Pre-arrival information for new international students

• Orientation programmes• Cultural and social events• Assistance with University

procedures• Handbook for International

Students• International Student Adviser who

assists with personal and practical issues

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Notes

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www.ucd.ie/peermentoring

[email protected]

www.facebook.com/UCDPeerMentors

twitter.com/UCDPeerMentor

The UCD Peer Mentor Programme is co-ordinated and managed by the UCD Student Advisers

and the BA Student Engagement Officer

UCD Peer Mentor Handbook

Documents

Transcript of UCD Peer Mentor Handbook