Diversity Peer Mentoring Program
Do you want advice about the ins and outs of being an underrepresented student in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences? Join the SEAS Diversity Peer Mentoring Program to get insider knowledge about the school, and discover helpful resources to ensure your academic success.
For many incoming students, transitioning from high school to college can be challenging and intimidating. Our peer mentoring program focuses on helping you make a smooth and successful academic and social transition by providing opportunities for engagement and support, along with learning about department, school, and university resources. You will be matched with a fellow student in the school community, who will help support and guide you through your first year at UB.
The SEAS Diversity Peer Mentoring Program also strives to better integrate you into the UB SEAS community, early in your academic career. It complements the school’s other mentoring and tutoring programs.
Program Benefits
- Improve and maintain your grades and persistence in engineering
- Expand your network and meet UB students from great SEAS clubs
- Engage directly with peers and role models who are like you
- Participate in a learning community on a large campus with commuters and transfers
- Increase student retention in entry-level courses in your first and second years
- Receive guidance on classroom best practices
- Connect to campus resources, such as tutoring and mental health services
- Get support for academic skill development
- Gain practical advice, encouragement and support
- Learn from the experiences of others
- Increase your social and academic confidence
- Become more empowered to make decisions
- Develop your communication, study and personal skills
- Develop strategies for dealing with both personal and academic issues
How does the program work?
Peer mentees will be asked to opt-in to the peer mentoring program. You will complete a questionnaire and be matched with a UB SEAS Peer Mentor. You are expected to maintain contact with your peer mentor throughout the academic year and alert staff to any communication issues or problems.
The peer mentoring program will not replace faculty mentoring or academic advising for first-year students. The Peer Mentoring program will augment these other activities and provide students with another point of contact within the SEAS community.
What’s my commitment?
- Maintain weekly contact (via phone, text, email, in-person) with peer mentors
- Attend SEAS academic and personal development workshops
- Attend at least one (1) university activity per semester
- Attend at least two (2) SEAS-wide programs per semester
- Participate in Fall and Spring Peer Mentor/Mentee events offered through the Office of STEM Diversity Programs
- Complete end-of-semester evaluations in the fall and spring
- Comply with all Policies for SEAS Undergraduate Students
Interested in becoming a mentor?
Helping your fellow SEAS students learn the ins and outs of UB can be extremely rewarding. Learn how you can get involved by providing mentorship to first-year students.