The College of Engineering at Texas A&M University is recruiting 70 peer mentors to support the college’s first-year experience course - CLEN 181: Engineering Learning Community & Student Success Seminar.
Peer Mentors and CLEN 181
Beginning Fall 2020, the college added a peer mentor component to our CLEN 181: Engineering Learning Community & Student Success Seminar. The purpose of the seminar is to welcome first-year general engineering students to Texas A&M and assist with their transition and integration into the college. Throughout the seminar, peer mentors play an important role in forming an engineering community, fostering a supportive learning environment, and introducing first-year general engineering students to opportunities and resources that are available to them during their undergraduate career at Texas A&M.
Benefits for Peer Mentors
- Great opportunity to share your knowledge and support students in general engineering.
- Develop your communication skills and gain valuable leadership experience.
- Make a difference in the first-year experience of 2,100 new general engineering students.
- Receive compensation of $500 for the semester you serve as a peer mentor. This will be paid as a stipend through your student financial aid portal in October 2024.
Desired Characteristics for Peer Mentors
We are seeking engineering students who are:
- Interested in serving as a role model and peer mentor to advance the success of first-year students in general engineering.
- Willing to form an engineering community and foster a supportive learning environment.
- Capable of relating to and developing classroom rapport with a diverse group of first-year general engineering students.
- Knowledgeable about university/college opportunities and resources that would be useful to first-year students in general engineering.
Peer Mentor Responsibilities
In accordance with standards established by the university’s Office for Student Success (OSS), CLEN 181 peer mentors are responsible for the following:
- Demonstrate the Aggie Core Values (Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, and Selfless Service) and uphold the Aggie Code of Honor.
- Develop rapport and a safe relationship with new students.
- Assist individual students as needed, including following up with students who miss class and making referrals to appropriate resources for issues that are beyond your scope of expertise.
- Meet 1-1 with each student in your section at least once in the semester.
- Meet weekly with your instructor to coordinate and plan course components.
- Collaborate with your instructor to create a learning contract related to your experience that provides you with developmental opportunities within the classroom and fulfills your goals as a peer mentor.
- Commit to serving as a Peer Mentor for Fall 2024 in a 0-credit hour transition to a college course. Sections are composed of approximately 25 students and meet weekly for 50 minutes. Section times will be assigned based on your availability once you have registered for the Fall semester.
- Complete required Hullabaloo U training coordinated by the OSS.
- Hullabaloo U FYE Spring Training Session: Spring training is required for NEW peer mentors. You can choose from either April 21 (2-4 p.m.) or April 28 (5-7 p.m.) in the Rec Center – Multipurpose Room 243. Food will be provided. This session aims to create community among peer mentors through leadership and team-building activities. Reserve a spot for one of the spring training sessions through the sign-up form. Spring training is optional for returning peer mentors.
- Hullabaloo U FYE Summer Training Session: Summer training will be delivered online through Canvas and is now available on your Canvas Dashboard – titled “Hullabaloo U Peer Mentors (COMU-00…).” New and returning peer mentors must complete this training by Friday, August 2.
- For additional guidance on Hullabaloo U training, refer to the OSS website.
- Attend a CLEN 181 Peer Mentor training session led by the College of Engineering on Friday, August 16, from 1-3 p.m. in ZACH 297. Peer mentors located on remote campuses (i.e., Galveston, McAllen, Engineering Academies) will meet locally as a group. Attendance is required. Students who cannot attend the training will be moved from our “active” peer mentor list to our “alternates” peer mentor list for CLEN 181.
- Respond here to confirm your participation in the August 16 training session.
- Commit to working 3-4 hours per week in the Fall 2024 semester.
- Receive compensation of $500 for the semester you serve as a Peer Mentor. This will be paid as a stipend through your student financial aid portal in October 2024.
Minimum Requirements
Peer Mentors for CLEN 181 must meet the following minimum requirements:
- A current engineering student who has completed at least 24 credit hours by the end of the Spring 2024 semester at Texas A&M (in College Station, McAllen, Galveston) or through the Texas A&M Engineering Academies.
- Must be enrolled at the College of Engineering for the Fall 2024 semester.
- Degree (undergraduate/graduate) will not be completed prior to December 2024.
- Be in good academic standing, with a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA and good disciplinary standing.
- Completion of required training workshops (for more info, see Peer Mentor Responsibilities).
Application & Selection Process
The application cycle - to be considered as a peer mentor for the college’s First-Year Experience Course (CLEN 181) for Fall 2024 - is now closed.
In early August, we will start assigning peer mentors to specific sections of CLEN 181. Please monitor your email this summer for more information regarding the assignment process.
Thank you for considering this opportunity to play an important role in the success of our first-year engineering students. For additional information or questions, please contact Dr. Ogilvie at aogilvie@tamu.edu.
Coordination Team for Our First-Year Experience Course
- Elissa Morris, Senior Lecturer, First-Year Engineering Program - elissam@tamu.edu (lead for Instructor questions)
- Laura Olivarez, Director, Engineering Advising Services - laura.olivarez@tamu.edu
- Andrea M. Ogilvie, Assistant Dean, Student Success - aogilvie@tamu.edu (lead for Peer Mentor questions)