Peer adviser and mentoring
Purpose
Students returning from study abroad programs are usually so deeply impacted by their time overseas, that they express a desire to share their experience with other students through encouraging their friends and classmates to consider studying abroad. The VCU Peer Advising Program gives returnees the opportunity to discuss their experiences with the university community and promote summer, semester and year-long study abroad programs through one-on-one advising.
Responsibilities
Peer advisers will attend an orientation at the beginning of the semester, in which they will learn how to conduct a one-on-one advising session with a student.
Peer advisers are responsible for arranging the time, date and location of each advising session. The peer adviser’s name, contact information and host country will be available to all prospective students so they can contact you directly. We will also distribute your contact information during classroom presentations and at general information sessions.
Peer advisers must be knowledgeable about the resources available to students. They should be very familiar with the Education Abroad Web site and resource center. Peer advisers should be able to discuss funding opportunities for prospective study abroad students, answer questions and distribute study abroad literature such as advising packets, which are available in the Education Abroad Office.
Peer advisers can participate in an informal manner, where records are not necessary. Students interested in keeping a record of their advising session or fulfilling scholarship hours must keep an on-going log containing detailed information including hours worked and names of prospective study abroad students. They will receive a packet for this purpose and must submit the log at the end of the semester to the Education Abroad Office.
Interested students must be recently-returned VCU students from study abroad programs. For more information, contact Nasha Lewis at nlewis7@vcu.edu.
Mentor program for African American students
The study abroad mentoring program is designed to increase the number of African American students studying abroad. It was created to help guide prospective study abroad students. African American students returning from abroad are sometimes impacted in a different manner than other ethnic groups. Through this program, students will receive the necessary information that will make their international experience more beneficial and meaningful. The Study Abroad Mentor program will allow return participants to discuss their experiences with other African American students and properly prepare them for situations they may encounter overseas.
Goals
- To support and enlighten prospective study abroad students
- To inform students about various study abroad opportunities
- To recruit more African American study abroad participants
- To assist with the internationalization of VCU
- To promote summer, semester and year-long study abroad programs
Responsibilities
A mentor provides support to fellow African American students who will profit from the guidance, friendship and international experience of the mentor. A mentor will attend an orientation at the beginning of the semester in which they will learn how to advise a student one-on-one. Mentoring allows students to share experiences and learn from them while building a supportive relationship.
Mentors are responsible for arranging the time, date and location of each meeting with prospective study abroad students. The mentor’s name, contact information and host country will be available to all prospective African American study abroad students. We will distribute the contact information during classroom presentations and general information sessions.
Mentors must be knowledgeable about the resources available to African American students. They should be very familiar with the Education Abroad Web site and resource center. Mentors should be able to discuss funding opportunities for prospective study abroad students, answer questions regarding diversity issues within their former host country and to distribute study abroad literature such as advising packets.
Mentors can participate in an informal manner, where records are not necessary. Students interested in keeping a record of their advising session or fulfilling scholarship hours must keep an on-going log containing detailed information including hours worked and names of prospective study abroad students. They will receive a packet for this purpose and must submit the log at the end of the semester to the Education Abroad Office.
Benefits of mentoring
Mentoring offers many perks to all participants including:
- Providing an avenue for students to improve their study abroad experience
- Connecting African American students with like-minded peers
- Supporting the development of students at VCU
- Promoting the goal of internationalization
Mentors have the chance to:
- Share their personal experiences
- Build their resumes
- Develop communication skills and interpersonal skills
- Network
Participants must be recently-returned students from study abroad programs. Interested students should e-mail their contact information to Nasha Lewis at nlewis7@vcu.edu.
