Peer mentoring programs are shown to promote persistence, provide opportunities that encourage academic success, and foster a sense of belonging. The one-on-one model is designed to be student-centered and student-directed, allowing participants to easily blend their busy schedules with the requirements of the program.
The James Madison First Year Mentor Program strives to:
This webpage provides information for first-year students who want to take advantage of the program, and advanced students who may be considering becoming a peer mentor.
A First-Year Mentor is an upperclass student who will meet one-on-one with a first-year Madison student and serve as a role model, support system and resource agent.
What Can a First-Year Mentor help me with?
The type of relationship you build with your mentor is completely up to the two of you. In your first meeting, you and your mentor will talk about what you would like to get out of the relationship, what your interests are, and the best way to maintain contact with one another. From there, the two of you will decide what works best for you.
Do you remember what it was like your first semester at James Madison and what you did to survive? Are you a good listener who would like to help others learn from your experiences but doesn’t pretend to have all the answers? Are you a motivated student who is interested in making a difference in the lives of first-year Madison students?
Why become a Peer Mentor?
Information about the 2021-2022 Peer Mentor application will be posted in the coming weeks!