Peer Mentors

What Are Peer Mentors?

Peer Mentors are an important part of the UNIV experience. These student leaders are able to share their own knowledge and experience with incoming first-year students to promote their success at UNO.

UNIV Peer Mentors serve as role models who support first-year, transfer, and continuing students in navigating a successful college career at UNO. This leadership role is designed to foster student engagement, confidence, and connection to campus life through peer-level support that promotes growth, learning, and belonging.

The Peer Mentor role is designed to help students feel more comfortable engaging with campus resources, services, and support. They play a vital role in helping to bridge the gap when the background and lived experiences of instructors differ from those of their students.

Peer Mentors are paired with 1–2 UNIV 1001 and/or UNIV 1003 courses in the Fall semester and are expected to attend all class sessions, lead icebreakers/warm-ups, engage in small group discussions, present on key college success topics, and maintain consistent outreach to students in their section. They must also collaborate with their instructors on how best to support classroom activities and contribute to a positive learning environment.

To prepare for their role in the Fall semester, Peer Mentors complete approximately 12 hours of training during the Spring semester. Training covers such topics as mentoring strategies, professionalism, communication, public speaking, campus resource knowledge, and other vital skills.

Peer Mentor Expectations:

Serve as a role model for students in UNIV 1001 and 1003.

Attend monthly Spring training events and Fall team meetings.

Attend all assigned UNIV 1001 or UNIV 1003 weekly class sessions during the Fall to lead or co-lead UNIV classroom activities, including weekly icebreakers or warm-ups, small group discussions, and Q&A time.

Meet regularly with their UNIV Instructor(s) in the Fall to plan, reflect, and collaborate on classroom activities and student support.

Maintain consistent involvement with students in their section(s) during the Fall and conduct outreach including weekly check-in messages and holding one-on-one meetings if requested.

Set a weekly Peer Mentor ‘office hour’ in the Fall where they are available on campus if students would like to speak with them.

Respond to all communication from UNIV staff and their Instructor(s) within 48 hours.

Act in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct.