Becoming a Student Mentor

A Student Mentor has volunteered to assist students throughout their first year of study. All mentors are undergraduate students who have completed at least one year of study at CQUniversity and are committed to helping new students in their transition to uni life. They receive ongoing training throughout the year to ensure they have the necessary knowledge to assist. If they are unable to assist mentees with their concerns, their familiarity with the university enables them to refer the new student to the relevant person.

What are the Student Mentor benefits?

• Gain transferable employment skills (leadership, teamwork, problem solving,etc)
• An opportunity to help your peers
• Enhanced communications skills
• Recognition by and closer liaison with university staff
• Increased self-confidence and ability to work with and manage people
• Discount (10%) on any textbook purchases - courtesy of the CQUniversity Bookshop
• A certificate of appreciation signed by the Vice-Chancellor

How can Student Mentors help during Orientation Week?

Student Mentors provide new students with such things as:

• A tour of your campus
• A library familiarisation
• Assistance with study timetables
• Helping understand and gain access to on-line learning (email, online courses etc)
• Introductions to fellow students and staff
• Demystifying CQUcentral

How can Student Mentors help during term?

Student Mentors are happy to provide advice throughout the first year at university and will contact their students to advise of important issues. During the university's orientation week, mentors provide their 'mentees' with their contact details either in person or by online application and the students are encouraged to contact them for advice regarding university life. In particular, mentees can turn to their mentor for advice on how to get assistance on issues such as:

• Study Skills Workshops
• Location of Rooms
• Dealing with Stress
• Study Timetable
• Overdue assignments
• Library Usage

• Career Guidance
• Centerlink
• Computing Facilities
• Enrolment
• Exams
• Student Loans

Note: Student Mentors will not be expected to provide any degree of academic tutorial assistance!!

Desirable qualities for Student Mentors include:

• Successful completion of one calendar year of tertiary study
• An approachable, friendly and responsible attitude
• Commitment to the program
• Willingness to pro-actively maintain regular contact with mentees (around four times per semester)
• Willing to do online training and if possible attend mentor training sessions
•  Awareness of and ability to share your first year university experience

How to become a Mentor

Recruitment is open at all times. If you would like to apply to become a Student Mentor and meet the necessary requirements listed above, then:

1. Please complete the Mentor Application eForm.
   
2. You will be contacted soon afterwards by email.
   
3. You will have an interveiw, either by phone or in person, if possible, during September.
   
4. You will be notified by email after that if you are successful or not.
   

What happens once I become a mentor?

1. You will have access to the Mentor Moodle course and will be expected to do the training that is there before Orientation Week. Lots of information, tips, tricks, what your role and expectations are. Where you can find support. Participate in online discussions with other mentors, including some who have mentored before.
   
2. If you can attend an orientation, you may need to attend a meeting prior to orientation to organise logistics. Orientation for Term 1, 2011 is the week of February 19th - 27th, depending on which campus.
3. You recieve your mentees in two ways
   
   • if you attend orientation, you may be allocated a group of mentees. You exchange names and email addresses and let staff know your list.
   • whether you attend orientation or not, you may be allocated mentees who have not attended orientation and have applied online.
4. The average number of mentees per mentor is 10. This can change depending on the number of new students and numbers at orientation.
5. While effort is made to align programs of mentors and mentees, this is not always possible. Since the mentor program is not academic, and the type of help is university wide, this will not affect the mentoring relationship.
6. You stay in contact with your mentees in person, by email or by phone for their first year with approximately 5 contacts per term.
7. You regularly participate in the Mentor website discussions and professional development activities online or on-campus.
8. You have the opportunity to attend a free dinner for all mentors at one of the campuses.
9. You receive one or more certificates for participation.

For further information, please contact the Student Support Centre.