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Peer Mentoring: offering transitional support to Level 1 studentsLearning Development ServiceAngela1A mentor is a more experienced person who forms a relationship with a less experienced person in order to provide that person with advice, support and encouragement.Megginson and Clutterbuck, 1995.

Angela2Undergraduate mentoring in QUBSchool of English 2008/2009Four Peer Mentors

Angela SSCC Vicky, suggestion came from students. CD approach consultation, participation, empowerment, inclusion, grass roots approach, no parachute, work alongside schools and students32011/2012, 97 QUB Mentors45 male, 52 female

Accounting, Anthropology, Archaeology, Computer Science, English, History, Mathematics, Physics, Sociology

Word of mouth among students. Variety of forms. All schemes designed by students. All group mentoring. With occasional 1-1. All provide transitional support and varying degrees of academic support4Wider researchPeer Mentoring Works!How Peer Mentoring Enhances Student Success in Higher EducationJane Andrews and Robin Clark

Published by Aston University, Birmingham, November 2011

What Works? Student Retention and Success Programme

Funded by HEFCE and Paul Hamlyn FoundationAngela QUB schemes backed up by up-to-date research5Mentoring schemesAston UniversityBangor UniversityLondon MetropolitanLiverpool Hope universitySheffield UniversityOslo and Arkeshus University CollegeAngela6Findings75% concerned about making friends and settling in

70% confident that they had the ability to succeed academically

75% agreed that peer mentoring helped them adapt to university life

75% agreed that peer mentoring helped them make the most of academic opportunities and support services

Angela7Peer mentoring is a mechanism for addressing the issue of retention as it provides the means by which students can make friends, acclimatise to university life, and come to terms with their new student identity.Angela8RecommendationsTransition + - the ideal mentoring programmeoffers transitional support that evolves into academic and social support

Angela. The research recommends what they call transition + mentoring which is what weve been doing based on responses to student feedback9Essential Elements of Transition +Time to develop the schemeStart smallClear aimsStudent ownershipEmbedded within the School (assigned academic)Tailored Careful selection of mentorsLead mentorComprehensive training Assigned space within the SchoolPromotionOpt-out otherwise seen by students as a deficit model of supportFormal recognition for mentors (Degree Plus)

Angela10Within the UK Higher Education context, peer mentoring relates to the concept of reciprocal peer support and learning whereby a peer mentor helps to enhance and promote the overall university experience of either an individual student, or a group of fellow students. Peer mentors are generally slightly more advanced in their studies than peer mentees. By using their own experiences and insights, peer mentors help newer students settle into, and succeed at, university; building relationships that often last throughout the first year and in many cases beyond. Andrews and Clark, 201111Peer mentoring offers an approach whereby students help students discover the new world of university life through the formation of safe and supportive peer relationships

Andrews and Clark, 201112Ryan Glass, Lead Mentor, School of MathematicsRyan13School of MathematicsMy experience as a QUB Level 1 student of MathematicsDaunted by the size of my year groupLonelyFelt like a jobNot what I expectedProblems werent resolved until Level 2Passion for Mathematics kept me thereRyan14School of MathematicsHow the mentoring scheme developedGillian MarkLDSAcademic supportFinanceRecruitmentPromotionTraining

15Mathematics Mentors 2010/11

Ryan16Mentoring in School of MathematicsEncouraged by LDS to develop our own modelOpt in / opt outPairing upAcademic aspectsSocial aspectsWeekly mentoring meetings

Ryan Welcome week sign up17Mentoring in School of MathematicsAcademic aspectsWeekly homework sessionsRevision sessionsRyan homework backing from lecturers (solutions) // notice in the first revision session students were nervous about asking questions that I knew they had18Mentoring in School of MathematicsSocial aspectsWeekly social hoursGroup social nightsMonthly social eventsRyan Do what they want usually want this replaced with another hwrk session they realise the transition is hard // different types // after first revision class, invited lecturers along to break down the barriers19Mentoring in School of MathematicsContinued developmentRecruitmentPromotionHomework sessionsRyan Personal statement & interview // Merchandise & Welcome week full day // more specialised20Mentoring in School of MathematicsGood chance to settle in quicker and make that transition between school life and university easier. First opportunity to make friends in your class. Its nice having someone there who can give you advice on how to answer mathematically and gives you that reassurance to keep you hanging in there when it all seems a bit too much. And the events were definitely good banter!Ryan Personal statement & interview // Merchandise & Welcome week full day // more specialised21Mentoring in School of MathematicsCouldnt have survived first year without it. Great way to make friends. First year is a big shock and having older students help/guide you was just what you needed to get through and have fun!I thought it was brilliant. Eased the transition from school to university a lot! I probably wouldnt have lasted the year without it!Ryan Personal statement & interview // Merchandise & Welcome week full day // more specialised22Mentoring in School of MathematicsTrainingTeacherConfidence in speakingTime managementResponsibilitiesRelationships with lecturersFriendshipsRyan Personal statement & interview // Merchandise & Welcome week full day // more specialised23Saoirse McGrath, Peer Mentoring Advisor, Learning Development ServiceSaoirse24Benefits for the mentorFormer QUB mentor- Why I became a mentor- Background

Saoirse My experience of university mirrored that of Ryans. Lonely/isolated/demotivated/my confidence was zapped.Worked as mentor in the SoE. Ive acted as lead mentor for three different teams of mentors. Once I had graduated I began to work in LDS exploring PM in other universities to get an idea of good practice and I now work as a mentoring advisor, Angela is my line manager, we help Schools set up schemes and offer them continual support throughout the year. Ive also begun delivering mentoring training. So as you can see thats a huge leap from three years ago and all thanks to my involvement in mentoring at QUB.

25Benefits for the mentorPersonal DevelopmentPassion Meeting new peopleGrowing in confidenceRewarding

Saoirse26Benefits for the mentorEmployment skillsOrganisational OpportunitiesContinued studyPublic speakingCommunicationFacilitationAttendance at conferencesTraining

Saoirse27The role of the Learning Development ServiceProvides advice and guidance for Schools in the development and implementation of mentoring schemesAttends information sessions in SchoolsProvides mentor trainingMeets regularly with lead mentorsSupports individual mentors on a one-to-one basisEnsures mentors meet the requirements for Degree Plus

28Professor John Thompson29