Developing An Effective Online Peer Mentoring Program: From Training To Implementation

Description  Challenge - Developing peer mentoring programs that meet student and institutional needs Most colleges and universities are increasingly concerned about student retention-to-graduation, something that has taken on increasing significance since the advent of the Covid 19 pandemic. This webinar will demonstrate how online peer mentoring can have a significant impact on keeping students on track for graduation – and how training is the key to ultimate success. Key Takeaway Participants will learn how a peer mentoring program can be developed in an effective and efficient manner; i.e., one that serves to enhance retention and completion rates and better prepares today’s students to be successful, especially in a world that is increasingly driven by technology. The session will highlight evidence-based best practices in developing peer mentoring programs that meet both student as well as institutional needs. Training peer mentors will be emphasized. Overview “The purpose of the Peer Mentor Program is to serve as an integral part of the University to promote the improvement of academic success, persistence and successful graduation of students participating in the program.” - Ferris State UniversityPeer mentoring is a highly engaging and cost-effective way to help students persist to graduation. As such, it has become much more pervasive on many college campuses. In a very real sense, peer mentoring programs offer faculty, staff and other professionals a way to do more with less while increasing retention and enhancing completion rates. The more students are actively involved in peer mentoring, the more social integration is achieved allowing critical resources to be distributed in a more efficient manner. The evidence is clear: when conscientiously designed and comprehensively implemented, peer mentoring can provide colleges and universities with significant benefits in a number of key areas related to student success.This webinar will cover the essential components of a successful peer mentoring program designed to meet the needs of college students from a variety of populations. The focus will be on developing and maintaining peer-to-peer supportive relationships. As is usually the case with any successful program, the critical role of training – and how to conduct it appropriately – will be covered, along with recommendations for enhancing the overall efficacy of the program. Equal attention will be given to the individuals who serve as a peer mentors as well as those responsible for overseeing the overall program. Also included will be opportunities for participant involvement through the use of case studies and real-time feedback via chat. Objectives Review the essential components of successful online peer mentoring programs Learn the benefits and challenges unique to online peer mentoring programs Explore evidence-based best practices in online peer mentoring with college students Assess and anticipate the needs of students with respect to peer mentoring strategies Improve the ability to truly connect with peers during a mentoring session Examine issues of confidentiality and security associated with online peer mentoring programs Discover strategies for training peer mentors so they are prepared to meet the needs of their mentees using a variety of integrated strategies Learn how to train peer mentors so they are prepared for multiple scenarios based on unknown contingencies Critique real-life examples of effective and ineffective ways of interacting with students in a peer mentoring relationship Who Should Attend Enrollment Management Academic Advising and Retention Career Services/Career Center Orientation and Advising Admissions and Recruitment Student Services/Affairs Academic Affairs/Advising Faculty Student Conduct