First Year Learning Experience (Flex Learning Communities)

This is our largest program with a capacity for over 500 first year students in Learning Communities. FLEX is designed with popular first year courses organized around particular majors and career paths. We require over 40 peer mentors in FLEX for Term 1 and require over 20 peer mentors in Term 2 for FLEX Learning Communities.

NEW – Level-Up Learning Communities

The Level-Up Learning Communities are for second year students! The Level-Up LCs are designed to foster a sense of community, allow second year students to meet other students in their major and understand a range of career and research opportunities available to them through their Level-UP Hours.

Indigenous Student Achievement Pathways (ISAP Learning Communities)

ISAP offers three culturally-responsive Learning Communities each term. The Medicine Wheel LC focuses on STEM degree pathways; the Star Blanket LC focuses on Social Science and Humanities pathways; and the Willow Hoop focuses on Fine and Performing Arts pathways. We require 8 – 10 Peer Mentors per term in the ISAP Learning Communities.

University of Saskatchewan Transition Entrance Program (formerly known as UTRAN)

USTEP is for the students under 21 whose high school marks did not represent their academic potential. USTEP offers 7 LCs to select from for both Term 1 and Term 2 and we require 14 peer mentors in Term 1 for USTEP.

Matched with a Mentor (mentorship for non-learning communities first year students)

Matched with a Mentor involves one-on-one thirty minute mentorship sessions with first year students. Mentors and students are matched by their area of study (if possible). Recruitment of students and coordination of mentors is done by the LC team, while meetings are arranged directly by peer mentors. We require 8 – 10 peer mentors for this program.

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Peer Mentors are upper-year undergraduate students who act as “expert learners”, helping the students they mentor accomplish the three Learning Community goals: Build Community – Explore Careers – Enrich Academics.

A typical Peer Mentor will spend 3 -5 hours per week on mentorship related activities; this includes preparation time, LC Hour time and regular training and professional development.

The role of a Peer Mentor is different than that of an Instructor, Tutor or Teaching Assistant. Peer Mentors are facilitators. As a mentor you will be facilitating sessions, leading discussions and sharing your experiences. Peer Mentors will help first year students form a community, make important connections, and achieve a sense of belonging on campus.

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Peer Mentor Benefits

Serving as a Peer Mentor is a valuable form of service that directly impacts the University community. By volunteering your time, energy and knowledge, you contribute enormously to the success of first year students by helping them achieve a sense of belonging in the university community!

A relationship with first year students allows Peer Mentors to:

• Share experiences and help others avoid similar obstacles
• Develop/improve upon organizational and leadership skills
• Enhance their undergraduate experience and expand their network
• Receive a variety of great Peer Mentor Incentives (see below)

Many Arts and Science Peer Mentors and campus student leaders started university in a Learning Community, where they developed the friendships, confidence and skills that set them apart. Having the experience of volunteer work in the form of mentorship on your resume is an excellent asset for students. Our peer mentors are looked to as role models and leaders in their academic community, and many go on to other high-profile leadership positions.

Peer Mentor Incentives

• Leadership and Facilitation Skills – We help you develop skills to add value to your undergraduate experience and take with you into your chosen career.
• Peer Mentor of the Month nomination - First year students in Learning Communities are invited to complete monthly nominations to highlight the good work of mentors! Gifts are given to the recipients of the best nominations.
• Honorariums – Peer Mentors are given an honorarium once per term during the term they volunteer as a peer mentor. Each Learning Community Program has a different set amount for the honorarium. Payment by honorarium means that Peer Mentors are classified as volunteers, not paid staff.
• References – Letters will be written for any Peer Mentors that request a reference from the Director of Arts & Science Learning Communities or any member of the Learning Communities team. Note: Peer Mentors must volunteer for a minimum of one term before requesting a reference or reference letter.
• End-of-semester recognition - Completion certificates are awarded to all volunteers for outstanding mentorship and leadership commitment.
• Professional development – Development opportunities will be woven into the weekly peer mentor training. Additionally, there will be opportunities to make connections to university leaders, student leadership conferences and more!
• CCR – Co-Curricular Record, which is an official U of S document that demonstrates your involvement in this leadership role as an Arts and Science Peer Mentor (ccr.usask.ca).

2023-24

February 28 |  Peer Mentor applications due by 4 pm

March 3 - 10 | First round status letters emailed to applicants. Applicants who pass the first round will be invited for an in-person interview with our LC staff. (Returning Peer Mentors will be send acceptance letters but will not be required to interview).

March 13 -16 | Peer Mentor Interviews Those students that are accepted for interviews will be contacted via email and sign up for a specific time slot for interviews during these dates. These will be group interviews with 6 Peer Mentors interviewed in each session.

Early April | Final status emailed to interviewees.

Peer Mentor training is mandatory and essential for the success of peer mentors. Training allows you to meet the other mentors and participate in sessions and workshops to prepare you for your experience as a mentor. Training dates to be determined.

ISAP Peer Mentor training is facilitated by the ISAP team. Please contact isap.queries@artsandscience.usask.ca for more information