SUPPORTING STUDENTS THROUGH 4 Program Models that PEER MENTORING - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

SUPPORTING STUDENTS THROUGH 4 Program Models that PEER MENTORING Work

WHO WE ARE ADRIENNE NUSSBAUM SANDRA LEMONS  Director/Assistant Dean  Director for International Student Services  Office of International Students and Scholars  Office of International Affairs  Boston College  Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis STEPHEN SILVER ZAHRA AHMED  Director of International Student Programs  Director, Civic and Community Engagement  Office of Pluralism and Leadership  Division of Undergraduate Education  Dartmouth College  University of California, Irvine

BOSTON COLLEGE International Assistant Program

PROGRAM OVERVIEW  Program was created in 1980 by international student from Taiwan working with administration. I have been overseeing since 1987.  75 International Assistants matched with approximately 300 new freshmen and exchange students; 4 students per IA; All new international students are automatically matched.  Volunteer-no compensation except for a t-shirt and some free meals!  Divided into 9 Cluster Groups-Each with 2 International Coordinators who are returning IAs  Mostly American/some internationals; More females than male, More A&S than other schools  Supervised by Director of OISS with assistance from GA 12 month program overview  August: IA Workshop and International Student Orientation  September-December: Welcome Social; Halloween Event, Thanksgiving Dinner, Holiday Social, Red Sox Game, Cluster Group events  January-February: Spring Orientation; Recruitment for new IAs  March-May: Interviewing, Selection and Initial Training of new IAs; Celtics Game, Easter Event  June-July: Match IAs with students; prepare for training and orientation

INTERVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS  Interviewing and selection done by 20 current IAs who comprise “Steering Committee”  Trained in interview skills, IA qualifications, and selection meeting process  30 minute interview conducted by pair of interviewers; Each interviewer on two teams  Have very structured interview questions for consistency with some flexibility for hypotheticals  Need to complete evaluation form on each candidate on 4 most important criteria for IA after interview and at end of process:  Personal Qualities/Communication Skills  Knowledge of IA Program and demonstrated year long commitment  Knowledge of BC and Boston-Good resource person  International perspective and interest (not necessarily experience) Selection done at one all day/night meeting Applicants presented anonymously except for returning IAs All peer decisions/group consensus-challenge each other

TRAINING “The IA program is like studying abroad everywhere in one year. It has given me a much wider range of 4 Hour Training at end of April right after selection experiences and opinions about life than I'd normally  Icebreaker have access to. It has also helped me take a better  Role plays of IA/IS relationships look at my own culture, and has furthered my  Panel of IAs and ISs awareness of it. I've become more critical of some  Barnga cross-cultural simulation things that I hadn't noticed before, and more proud of others."  Social 4 Hour Training of International Coordinators in August  Leadership skills  Communication  Delegation  Motivation  Logistical details 2 ½ Day Training of All IAs in August preceding Orientation  Ice breakers  Cluster Group Meetings  Values in other cultures  Cross-Cultural Communication  Cultural adjustment  Resource Information  Bafa-Bafa Cross-cultural simulation  Social Justice Activity

RESPONSIBILITIES “I remember someone  Attend 4 hour training in April told me that the  Participate fully in 3 day International Assistant Workshop and 4 day International program would change Student Orientation at end of August my life. I thought "yeah  Attend Evaluation and Orientation Session in January right" and I now realize  Attend OISS organized events throughout year that he was right. The  Attend cluster group events throughout year  IA program literally Meet with your students on a regular basis, especially first few weeks transformed me from a girl who had never been  Serve as cultural informant  Help students meet Americans out of New England to  Serve as resource person a world-wide traveler. It  Get them involved in BC co-curriculars has made me more  Help them get to know Boston culturally aware and  Help with any issues: academic, sensitive and allows me  roommate, culture shock, etc . to truly embrace cultures that I would have to wait a lifetime to otherwise encounter.”

CHALLENGES  Keeping IAs motivated through entire year  Getting freshmen to be involved as much as exchange students  Budget-not a club  Growth in program - used to be 1-1 relationship with 30 IAs and 30 freshmen  Can no longer include TCKs or Americans abroad

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES “ Looking back at my four years of college, I can think of few experiences as  Structure of peer interview/selection valuable as the International Assistant process Program. I think I have gained more from the program than I could possibly  Competiveness of selection process- give. I have learned about other cultures. I some years has been 1/5 who apply have learned about new ways of doing get in things. In the process, I have learned about the US, my culture, and most importantly,  Impact on IAs who are intentionally myself. Through the friends and love I felt mostly Americans in the IA program, I know I am a better person. I will carry the  About 1/3 of IAs are returning experience with me always."  Social Justice piece as part of IA training-hope to do more of this in the future.

DARTMOUTH COLLEGE Name of program?

PROGRAM STRUCTURE  Program created in 2001 for 24 new international students mentored one-on-one by 24 mentors.  Currently one International Student Mentor Coordinator, 10 Mentors, 10-13 protégés per Mentor.  While the ISM program is voluntary, mentors and mentor coordinator get a $300 meal stipend.  U.S. students may be ISMs, and protégés include transfers, exchange, and U.S. overseas students.  Protégés are supervised by Director of International Student Programs and Mentor Coordinator  Program timeline:  Spring term selection of International Student Mentor Coordinator and 10 International Student Mentors  Mentors and Mentor Coordinator correspond with new international students in the summer  Late August/early September Mentor Training Days, Boston Logan Meet & Greet, ISO  September through early March mentors advise, assist protégés; and plan up to four programs

INTERVIEW/SELECTION PROCESS  International Student Mentor Coordinator (ISMC) Selection Process  Mentor Coordinator position advertised to all Mentors and international undergraduates.  Prospective Mentor Coordinators submit applications, meet with ISP Director and previous ISMC.  International Student Mentor Selection Process and Requirements  International Student Mentor positions advertised to all undergraduates.  New International Student Mentor Coordinator helps select new Mentors.  Prospective International Student Mentors complete applications; 15-30 students apply.  Group interviews for applicants include hypotheticals and programming questions.  Mentors must show genuine interest in the world via travel, study abroad, heritage, culture, etc.  Mentors must participate in mentor training, and be on campus for fall and winter terms.  All mentors participate in International Student Orientation.  Returning mentors must still apply and interview for the position

TRAINING The Logistics of International Student Mentor Training Days  Mandatory two day training in late August/early September.  Training at a site distant from main campus but in walking distance.  Breakfast, lunch and dinner catered for the two days.  Two mentors conduct Boston Logan Meet & Greet; eight plan, implement Hanover student arrivals.  One mentor selected to manage distribution student linens shipped to campus.  Mentors staff, monitor ISO sessions; plan the student-led and conducted sessions of ISO. The Content of Mentor Training Sessions  Dual purpose: mentor bonding and learning about campus resources  Training sessions led by campus partners, and mentors participate in brainstorming, problem solving.  Campus partners include OVIS, Student Health Services, OPO, UJAO, DOSS, UDO.  Mentor bonding happens in low ropes course led by Outdoor Programs Office staff.  Critical sessions include student health resources, and the campus social milieu  Mentor Program and ISO logistics handled over working lunch meetings.

RESPONSIBILITIES  Correspond with protégés over the summer  Attend the two Mentor Training Days  Mentors “meet & greet” students arriving at Logan airport and Hanover, New Hampshire  Participate fully in International Student Orientation  Frequent correspondence and meetings with protégés during both fall and winter terms  Participate in programming for protégés during both the fall and winter terms  Write brief reports on the status of their protégés at the end of both fall and winter terms