Peer Mentoring
We want to ensure all NUS College students are supported, especially through the first years when things feel new and unfamiliar. The NUS College Mentorship Programme was set up to ensure every first-year student in the NUS College community has a senior they can turn to – especially regarding academic concerns.
Once you’re accepted into NUS College, you will be assigned to a peer mentor who will typically be a senior from your faculty.
Objectives
- Assist first-year undergraduates in their transition to University life by:
- Giving guidance on questions from seniors
- Familiarising them with academic life and requirements
- Facilitate student access to academic information and resources. These sources include:
- Seniors in the NUS College community
- Faculty advisors
- Other members of faculty in NUS
- College and respective home faculties
- NUS College administrative staff
- Information available in print and online
At the same time, peer mentors seek to empower students to help themselves by finding or validating information as much as possible on their own time.
- Foster a sense of community through peer guidance and by linking up incoming first-years to the current NUS College community.
- Assist Special Programmes with the growth mentoring of senior students.
In line with its objectives, the NUS College Mentorship Programme also strives to introduce first-years to non-academic opportunities like NUS CCAs, NUS College interest groups, and networking opportunities with seniors and alumni.
A Peer Mentor’s Role
Peer mentors are here to guide first-year students to be independent and self-sufficient throughout their University journey. Peer mentors differ from Orientation Group Leaders (OGLs) in that each first-year student will be paired with a peer mentor even if he/she did not attend orientation.
First-year students will also be assigned to a mentoring group of no more than six students, and mentors of each group will be from the same faculty, major, or department to allow them to give faculty-specific advice.
Mentors will meet with their groups throughout the academic year and cover a variety of topics that include, but are not limited to:
- CourseReg and its mechanics
- Faculty/Major requirements
- NUSC Curriculum requirements
- Exchange/NOC/Joint Degree Programmes
- International Programmes and Special Programmes
While Peer Mentors are not in the capacity to be personal tutors or recommend courses, first-years are encouraged to contact their peer mentor outside of these structured sessions for advice on a more ad-hoc basis. As seniors, peer mentors will be well equipped to address many common questions first-years tend to have, such as:
- How do I plan my timetable? Do I have to start planning now which courses I have to take?
- How many courses should I take each semester? Are there courses I should take or avoid in my first semester?
- What is CourseReg? How do I select my courses?
- How many courses do I need to complete for graduation?
- What are Unrestricted Electives (UEs)? How many UEs do I have?
- Where can I find information on my lecture venues?
- How do I plan a Student Exchange Programme (SEP)? What about NUS Overseas College (NOC)?
- What happens if I want to do a double major? Can I graduate on time?
- What are NUS College classes like?
- What is University life like? Where do I fit in?
Who Can Be A Peer Mentor?
Any senior NUS College student who possesses these qualities can become a peer mentor:
- Empathy: A sense of empathy, enthusiasm and a willingness to help first-year students
- Expression: Good interpersonal and communication skills
- Experiences: Some experiences inside and outside the classroom
- Excellence: Good academic standing