How can peer mentoring benefit our department?

Peer mentoring programs benefit the department by providing an additional level of support for student success and retention and enhancing the departmental culture, as students build meaningful professional connections with colleagues at different levels in the program.

During recruitment of new students to the program, peer mentoring can be especially beneficial, as the work of contacting and welcoming prospective students can be distributed among peer mentors as well as program coordinators. Contact from a peer in the program gives a “personal touch” in recruiting that makes prospective students feel welcome and supported. Refer to thePeer Mentoring for Recruitment document for more information.