Peer Mentoring Program

The Peer Mentoring Program offers formal support to CAM students in their first year by pairing them with established CAM students who can help them navigate their transition into CAM. First-year students are matched with one or two peer mentors before the beginning of their first semester. The role of the mentors is to enhance the first-year experience by providing support, encouragement and information to their mentees. Mentors may have suggestions about work-life balance, adjusting to life in CAM or Cornell, advisor/advisee relationships and more. Mentors may serve as both personal and professional support for their mentees. In addition, Peer Mentor Program group events are held throughout the year and include fun activities as well as practical workshops.

Program Structure

Over the summer, a match-up survey is sent out to all incoming CAM students and to prospective peer mentors. In mid-August a welcome email is sent out to mentors and mentees with their matches. Mentors and mentees meet throughout the year, and larger group activities are organized 1-2 times per semester. After each semester, a feedback survey is sent to mentors and mentees. Questions or comments can be sent to the program coordinators. For the 2022-2023 academic year, they are Mayleen Cortez (mec383), Tayler Fernandes Nunez (tf223), and Marissa Gee (mag433).

Peer Mentor Expectations

  • Make a good faith effort to meet with your mentee in-person at least once per semester.
  • Attend at least one group activity per semester.
  • Direct your mentee to the Director of Graduate Studies (David Bindel) or the Administrative Manager (Phillip Rusher) for answers to questions you cannot answer.
  • Check in on your mentee’s morale and progress or goals, both academic and research-related, at least twice per semester.
  • Facilitate connections and build community between your mentee and other graduate students and faculty when appropriate.
  • Respond to your mentees and the mentoring program coordinators in a timely fashion.

Peer Mentee Expectations

  • Make a good faith effort to meet with your mentor in-person at least once per semester.
  • Attend at least two group activities per semester.
  • View your mentor as your go-to person for questions or concerns but also feel free to reach out to other CAM students.
  • Respond to your mentors and the mentoring program coordinators in a timely fashion.