Peer Mentor Program

Transitioning to life at college can be a challenging and confusing process; the Peer Mentor Program (PMP) is a volunteer, light-weight opportunity for our students to engage the Providence College culture in a direct, transformative, and well-supported way. The PMP is designed to assist in the social, personal, and academic acclimation to PC by pairing incoming first-year students with outstanding sophomore, junior, and senior students who act as mentors throughout the academic year.

Relationships are built by matching mentors and mentees through a thorough application & interview process, profiles, and mentor matching sessions.

In addition to acculturation, one of the primary goals of the PMP is to foster academic excellence through targeted programming in collaboration with Career Services, the Office of Residence Life, Campus Ministry, SAIL and the Office of Academic Services through various themed opportunities.  These foci include:

• Academic issues (course selection, study habits, time management)
• Getting involved on campus (intramurals, clubs & orgs, etc.)
• Career Advice (planning for graduate school, learning about career choices)
• Finding a part-time job
• Dealing with peers, roommates, friends, and others
• Off-campus resources (navigating RIPTA, places to go in RI)

A host of workshops, gatherings and activities are offered during the academic year to enhance the mentor/mentee relationship and strengthen our mentees' transition to Providence and Providence College.  In addition, mentees and mentors assist in the planning of social activities, such as:

• Bowling nights
• Group trips to downtown Providence (Providence Performing Arts Center, Trinity Repertory, Waterfire, etc.)
• Laser Tag
• Holiday-themed gatherings
• Trip to the zoo
• Movie and Game nights
• Birthday celebrations
• Ice Skating
• Paintball
• Roller skating
• Milkshakes & Munchies at McPhail's
• Fall/Spring Semester Community Service Project

Why should you mentor?

In addition to providing support, mentors are bridge-builders between their first-year mentees and the student service departments across campus. This means that students have a ready resource for questions ranging from how to get places, how to navigate through important staples of the college experience, and most importantly, how to get connected to PC's effervescent student life.  Our mentors serve a role little different from that of a big brother or big sister: building healthy relationships with freshmen mentees, sharing personal experiences and insights about being at PC, and being an informal source of dedicated support and information.  You take on the responsibility of enhancing students' growth and development, and directing them toward a higher quality of life.

Our mentors are passionate, committed role models that share in the spirit of PC and have an appetite for guiding and helping others.

Why become a mentee?

Mentees benefit from a variety of opportunities, including: building a healthy relationship with upperclassmen mentors, sharing transition experiences and insights about being at PC, and having access to a dedicated reservoir of support and information.  Whether it's about your roommates, what to eat at Ray, how to add/drop classes, or what to do around Providence, your friends in the PMP are here to help you out!

Peer Mentor Responsibilities:

Attend all training (dates/times will be provided)

• Establish contact with peer advisee(s) before September arrival
• Facilitate peer mentees' adjustment to PC
• Assist in the transition from secondary to post-secondary education
• Help mentee become familiar with PC campus
• Answer questions about life at PC or help connect mentees with resources at that might help answer questions
• Provide social and academic assistance to mentees when necessary
• Help guide mentees to the appropriate resources, opportunities, extra-curricular activities and services on campus
• Help guide mentees in developing and achieving academic excellence and realistic expectations
• Offer suggestions and tutorial assistance when needed
• Serves as a positive peer role model and confidant for mentees
• Have a positive and enthusiastic attitude about PC, the PC community and the college experience
• Maintain a minimum contact (once a week) with advisee(s) via phone, email or face-to-face interaction
• Work closely and effectively with other peer mentors
• Promote interaction among peer mentors and mentees
• Participate in and help develop interesting educational and fun opportunities for peer mentees
• Attend regular PMP meetings
• Attend all PMP events, unless an emergency arises and PMP staff are notified
• Provide regular feedback (via semi-monthly reports) to PMP staff