Graduate school will challenge and change you in dynamic ways. KGI’s Peer Mentor Program is designed to provide students with support from a peer that has recently completed their first year at KGI. We hope you will find value in having someone in your corner to help navigate your transition, answer questions, share resources and simply be a part of this new journey.
Program Benefits
Benefits of being a mentee
Receive help to:
- Navigate the new academic landscape and offer advice on studying and time management
- Become familiar with KGI and The Claremont Colleges resources
- Connect with other KGI students
- Overcome challenges and receive encouragement
- Identify clubs and activities on campus that will help you hone your leadership skills
- Learn to advocate for yourself throughout graduate school
- Define goals and steps to achieve them
- Find opportunities to get involved in the KGI and The Claremont Colleges community
Benefits of being a mentor
- Improve interpersonal communication skills
- Develop leadership skills
- Reinforce personal study habits and time management plan
- Expand network of peers and future colleagues
- Practice conflict resolution skills
- Engage in a volunteer opportunity that leads to personal growth
Participant Expectations
Mutual Expectations
Build and support effective relationships: Participants should practice kindness and openness to create supportive relationships based on mutual trust, respect, and accountability. This creates a safe space for everyone to work towards personal growth during the mentorship relationship.
All participants are expected to:
- Discuss the best mode of communication and set meetings per semester.
- Hold each other accountable and keep commitments that are made.
- Accept and value one another’s differences.
- Give each other full and undivided attention during meetings.
- Be responsible for individual learning and actions.
- Build trust with one another by being open and honest.
Peer Mentors will:
Provide guidance and feedback based on personal experience: Facilitate mentee’s ability to create and work towards specific learning goals by providing feedback and guidance on action steps, sharing lessons from personal experience, and serving as a connector to people and resources.
Facilitate reflective thinking: Encourage the mentee to reflect on experiences by asking thoughtful, questions that seek deeper meaning and help the mentee to become more self-aware of strengths and growth opportunities.
Peer Mentor Expectations:
- Attend the Peer Mentor Orientation/Training and workshops (Dates are TBA)
- Attend the program kick-off and culmination events in the fall and spring semesters.
- Meet with your mentees at least once a month.
- Consistently check in on your mentees’ morale and academic progress/goals.
- Be available via email with a 24-48 hour response window, except on weekends.
- Attend an event sponsored by your department or student organization, with your mentees.
- Share your experience about the program, courses, experiential education, etc. (ex. helpful teaching resources, what to expect in the semesters ahead, preparing for internships).
- Share professional development tips and give advice on networking with faculty, alumni, and other professionals.
- Encourage mentees to utilize other KGI/TCCS resources (ex. Career Services, peer tutors, KGI Cares, 7C Health, EmPower Center).
- Adapt your support to the needs of your mentees, which may depend on their academic, social, cultural, and other backgrounds and prior experience.
- Help mentees resolve group conflict before it escalates; ask for help from the Division of Student Affairs if there is a problem or issue you cannot manage.
- Direct your mentee to the Division of Student Affairs for answers to questions you do not have the answer to.
- Provide updates to the Division of Student Affairs about the program (e.g., respond to surveys).
- Enjoy the mentorship process and build on these interpersonal skills that will benefit you throughout your professional journey.
Peer Mentees will:
Take ownership for personal growth and learning: Take responsibility for personal growth and learning by asking questions, practicing goal-setting, seeking feedback, and reflecting for one’s own development.
Peer Mentee Expectations:
- Attend the program kick-off and culmination events in the fall and spring semesters.
- Meet with your mentor at least once a month.
- Respond to emails from your mentor within 24-48 hours.
- Attend an event sponsored by your department or student organization, with your mentor at least once per semester.
- Be open to sharing your experiences and goals with your mentor so they can get to know you better.
- Talk to your mentor about any conflicts or problems you are having before they escalate.
- Provide feedback on the mentorship program to the Division of Student Affairs (ex. respond to surveys).
- Enjoy the mentorship process and build on the interpersonal skills that will benefit you throughout your professional journey.
