The LEAD Seminar program invites rising sophomores, juniors and seniors to apply to become peer mentors for sections of LEAD 101 and 301. This is a great opportunity to help first year or transfer students acclimate to St. Mary's and succeed in their LEAD 101 or 301 liberal arts seminars, and also a terrific opportunity to learn about leadership, mentoring and higher education. Peer Mentors earn 3 credits by working with their seminars and taking LEAD 401 or 402, a practicum on peer mentoring, which meets once or twice a month.
A seminar's Peer Mentor serves as a model student, guides new the new students in getting to know our campus community, and acts as liaison between the instructor and students. The Peer Mentor helps connect students to campus resources and, with the instructor's support, presents a mini-lesson on a topic agreed upon by the Peer Mentor and instructor. Peer Mentors do NOT grade, teach in place of the instructor, or do the job of a Writing and Speaking Center Peer Mentor.
If you apply and are accepted and already have a full academic schedule, the administration will work with you so that you can take the 3-credit practicum without paying an overload fee.
Applications are due Monday, April 6. As part of your application, please submit a current resume and a statement (no more than one page). Your statement should explain how your experiences at St. Mary's-- including your own experience as a CORE or LEAD seminar student-- have prepared you to be a Peer Mentor. You will also be asked to identify a faculty member who will serve as a reference, and to state your GPA and areas of academic interest. If you have been asked by an instructor to serve as their Peer Mentor, you’ll have a chance to enter this information as well. In addition, please note that your SMCM records will be reviewed during the selection process; by submitting an application, you are agreeing to grant me such access.
If selected, you will attend the LEAD 101/301 section to which you are assigned; for LEAD 101, this includes the seminar’s first meeting, which occurs on the Friday of Orientation Week. You will also attend an in-person training session on the Sunday before the regular start of classes. All Peer Mentors should plan to be on campus early enough to attend these meetings. Additionally, Peer Mentors will participate in a Zoom training session in mid-August.
As mentioned above, Peer Mentors will also be registered for the 3-credit Peer Mentoring / Advanced Peer Mentoring Practicum, LEAD 401/402, which meets once or twice a month. Meetings normally take place on Monday, Wednesday or Friday from 11:30 AM-12:30 PM; we will work to accommodate the accepted Peer Mentors' schedules as well as possible.
Again, the deadline for submitting your application is Monday, April 6. Application materials should be submitted via this form.
If you have any questions peer mentoring or about the applciation process, please contact Dr. Brian O'Sullivan, Chair of LEAD Seminars, at 301-481-0584. Thank you in advance for considering this important campus role!