Texas Lutheran University Peer Mentors:
Not Your Average Orientation Leaders
National Conference on Students In Transition
Atlanta, Georgia
October 2013
Today’s Discussion
 An overview of the history of the TLU First Year Experience course and
its connection to the Peer Mentor Program
 Who are the TLU Peer Mentors?
 A description of the Peer Mentor recruitment and selection process
 Classroom Experience and Bulldog Orientation (Training and Preparation)
 Peer Mentor Duties and Responsibilities
 Compass: TLU’s General Education Program
 Assessments that keep the program going
Texas Lutheran University
“TLU prepares undergraduates academically, spiritually, and
socially in a residential community of faith and learning for
service and leadership.”
 Founded in 1891 in
Brenham, Texas
 Moved from Brenham to
Seguin, Texas in 1912
 35 miles east of San Antonio
and 50 miles south of Austin
 Hispanic Serving Institution
 Full-time professors serve as
academic advisors
 77 full-time faculty
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Student faculty ratio: 14 to 1
Average class size: 18
Mascot: Bulldogs
Colors: Black & Gold
14 Division III Varsity Sports
33% Athletes
97% first year students live on
campus
 60 Student Organizations
“We’re more than a campus, we’re a community.”
History of the Texas Lutheran’s First Year
Experience Course
 We’ve come along way since 1986…
 In 1986, a General Education curriculum change took place at
then Texas Lutheran College and students were required to take
GEC 134: Exploring the Arts and Sciences
 Today, the course is called FREX 134: Exploring the Arts and
Sciences
 Issues that come along:
 Students could take the course anytime during their four years
 Hard to find instructors to teach the course
And then came 2001-2002…
History of the Texas Lutheran’s First Year
Experience Course
 In 2001-2002, under the leadership of Dr. John T. Masterson,
former TLU provost, emphasis was placed on the First Year
Experience
 In 2004, the First Year Experience Committee was developed
and the faculty voted to make the freshman experience
course a requirement.
 Peer mentors also became part of this package.
 Peer Mentors would teach topics related to transitional issues
while faculty would focus more on their discipline and area of
expertise.
What is a TLU Peer Mentor?
Peer Mentors assist first year students during
orientation and throughout the first year with
their personal and academic transition into the
TLU community!!!
Peer Mentors are passionate about TLU and
have a genuine interest in helping students –
inside and outside the classroom.
Benefits of Being a Peer Mentor
 Offer an upperclassmen perspective
 Help students become successful
 Great way to meet new people
 Share experiences and offer support
 An opportunity to work closely with other students and TLU faculty
members
 Enhance public speaking and leadership skills (coordinating
events, facilitating discussions, organizing study sessions, etc.)
 Helps students gain an appreciation for diversity
 Learn more about campus resources
 Great resume builder!
Peer Mentor Incentives
 $1000 = $500 Peer Mentor Grant awarded on the University financial
aid award package for fall and spring semesters.
 Peer Mentors also receive a bi-weekly stipend which is divided
equally into 20 pay periods for fall and spring semesters.
 Bi-weekly stipends vary based on your years on the team:
 1st year = $50
 2nd year = $60
 3rd year = $70
 4th year = $80
Contracts are subject to termination if a Peer Mentor does not
fulfill duties and responsibilities outlined within the position.
Peer Mentor Selection Process
 Peer Mentor recruitment takes place in the Spring Semester.
February
 The Peer Mentors and Director of First Year & Campus Programs host information
sessions – students must be present to receive an application
 Application components:
 Resume
 Typed responses to the following:
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Why are you interested in becoming a Peer Mentor and what will you bring to the position?
Share a memorable experience from your first year at TLU.
What issues do you think are relevant to first year students at TLU?
Why do you think the Peer Mentor program exists?
Describe your leadership style.
 Recommendation letters from 2 faculty members
 Any instructor of their choice
 Their FREX 134 instructor
 Department Verification:
 GPA
 Disciplinary actions
Peer Mentor Selection Process
March
 Group interviews: students participate in a series of
activities for current Peer Mentors and staff to see how
they interact in groups and in certain situations.
 Individual interviews: if a student does well in the group
interview, they will be invited to have an individual
interview.
 For TLU’s 2014-2015 recruitment, all applicants will be
notified via email on their selection the week before
Spring Break.
Peer Mentor Selection Process
Do Veterans Have To Reapply?
 Yes – current Peer Mentors have to reapply to return to the team.
 Peer Mentors who wish to reapply to the team cannot participate
in the group and individual interviews for new applicants.
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They’re Selected…Now What?
 Spring Semester
 Attend mandatory Welcome Orientation (April)
 Attend SL3 New Member Orientation and Peer Mentor
Summer Training (April)
 SL3 stands for Student Life & Learning Leaders. The group consists of Student
Government Association Senators, Peer Mentors, Resident Assistants, Tutors
and Supplemental Instructor Leaders.
 Summer Break
 Connect with students on First Year Students page
 Attend Peer Mentor Training (August – week before fall
classes)
 Participate in 2-Day Bulldog Orientation and Welcome Week
The First Year Students portal page is a
great way to bond and get to know other 1st
year Bulldogs!
Students can get to know their FREX 134
Peer Mentor before Bulldog Orientation.
The personalized pages help the students learn a
little more about our campus leaders!
Students also have a chance to
bond and connect with all the Peer
Mentors on the blog portlet!
In August, students receive a
Bulldog Orientation postcard from the
Peer Mentor Team.
Summer Is Over…Peer Mentor Training Begins!
 Peer Mentor training is held the week prior to the start of the fall semester.
 Throughout the week, Peer Mentors focus on such topics as:
 History of TLU and the Peer Mentor Program
 Daily teambuilding icebreakers
 It’s Just Lunch
 Differences between high school vs. college and the shoulda, coulda, woulda’s
 Classroom management
 Group facilitation – communication is key among the 20
 Campus resources
 FREX 134 topics
Mandatory FREX 134 Topics:
 Differences Between High School vs. College
 TLU Technology
 Time Management
 Academic and Vocational Planning
 Understanding the Purpose of Higher Education
Optional FREX 134 Topics:
 Diversity
 Academic Policies and Resources
 Health and Campus Safety
 Helpful Study Techniques
Peer Mentor Training – “Special Presentation”
 Wish each other the best as we embark on New Student Orientation and FREX 134
Summer Is Over…The Pups Are Coming!
 In addition to preparing for the FREX 134 experience, Peer Mentors serve as orientation
leaders.
 For 2 days, Peer Mentors are responsible for:
 Organizing teambuilding activities
 Serving as ushers for the Matriculation Ceremony
 Performing our Campus Issues Skit
 Taking students on a Campus Tour
 Encouraging students to attend TLU Weeks of
Welcome activities
Key Peer Mentor Duties and Responsibilities
 Fall 2013
 Assist faculty member in the FREX 134 course
 Teach a minimum of 5 lessons in the FREX 134 course
 Attend monthly supervisor and staff meetings
 Present information in monthly module meetings (August – November)
 Organize 1 monthly activity and/or program for first year students
 Be available for formal and informal interaction with students in the program
(3-6 week checks, discuss performance and attendance in FREX 134 class,
etc.)
 Attend Leadership Team Meetings
 Spring 2014
 Assist with spring orientation
 Attend the First Year Welcome Back Dinner
 Meet once a month with FREX 134 group
 Organize 1 monthly activity and/or program for first year students
 Assist with Major’s Fair promotion
 Prepare end of the year activities for First Year Celebration
The Paw Print Activity Module
 In Fall 2012, TLU made a few changes to the General
Education curriculum and we welcomed Compass.
The Paw Print Activity Module
 Activity Modules give students an opportunity to apply the
knowledge they have gained in class to activities outside the
classroom and in the community.
 First Semester at TLU the students taking FREX 134 enroll in the
Paw Print Module
 Meetings are once a month for one hour
 This module helps students understand the General Education
Curriculum (Compass) and create their Comprehensive
Education Plan
 Students have to take 4 modules before they graduate
 Register for one module with each semester when they register
for classes
 Students are encouraged to complete all 4 modules by the end of
the sophomore year
The Paw Print Module
THE CONNECTIONS
Division of
Student Life
& Learning
Students
Orientation
TLU
Community
Faculty
Texas
Lutheran
Peer Mentors
(20)
First Year
Students
Portal Page
Compass
Program
What Keeps The Program Going…Assessment!
 Assessments are administered by the Peer Mentors in the
FREX 134 course. Students are tracked by their TLU ID#.
 Orientation & Welcome Week = administered after Weeks of
Welcome; How was the experience?
 First Year Survey = around the 2-3 week of school; How’s your
experience thus far; Are you still committed to this journey; Are
you participating in on-campus activities; Are you utilizing campus
resources, etc.
 FREX Assessment (*) = last week of school; an assessment of
linked courses, TLU Reader, etc. – the overall experience in
FREX 134
(*) – Big survey for us.
FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE
FALL 2012 ASSESMENT RESULTS
The First Year Experience Evaluation was administered by the Peer Mentors to all first year students
through their FREX134 courses. Of the 374 students enrolled in FREX134, 323 evaluations were
completed, yielding an 86% response rate. The assessment was used to evaluate the students’
perspectives of the Peer Mentor program, their individual Peer Mentor, the common text (The TLU
Reader), their experiences in linked sections, and their overall transition into TLU. Following are a
few results from this evaluation.
Strongly
Disagree
Disagree
Agree
Strongly
Agree
Positive
Responses
My peer mentor treated me with respect
1.3%
3 1%
76 24%
243 75%
319 99%
My peer mentor was concerned for my academic
success
1.3%
3 .9%
110 34%
204 63%
314 97%
My peer mentor was knowledgeable about campus
resources
2 .6%
1.3%
87 27%
232 72%
319 99%
My peer mentor kept me informed of upcoming
university activities and events
2 .6%
6 2%
101 31%
211 65%
312 97%
I believe my peer mentor helped my transition into
college
3 .9%
14 4%
139 43%
157 49%
296 92%
FREX ASSESSMENT: FALL 2012 RESULTS
TRANSITION INTO COLLEGE
Students were asked if they made a successful transition into college life. Overall the results were
positive with 94% of the students agreeing with the statement below.
I made a successful transition
into college life
Strongly
Disagree
Disagree
Agree
Strongly
Agree
Positive
Responses
4 1%
6 2%
137 42%
159 49%
296 92%
Yes…Peer Mentors do ALL this and still
juggle school, work, athletics, family…
They are all
about building
GREAT
college memories
for first year
Bulldogs!
Peer Mentors are also awarded along the way
In addition to their bi-weekly stipend and Peer Mentor Grant Award,
• TLU flash drives
• Family Dinner - the night before Orientation!
• 3 shirts (Peer Mentor polo, personalized for
orientation, and SL3)
• FREX Appreciation Lunch (December)
• Peer Mentor End of the Year Banquet (April)
It’s Never A Dull Moment in the life of a
TLU Peer Mentor
Questions???
For additional information on the TLU Peer Mentor Program, contact
Malikah Pitts Harvey, Director of First Year Campus Programs at
[email protected]; 830-372-6040.