Peer mentors will provide support and guidance to first-year UTK students with disabilities who have volunteered to participate in the Student Disability Services peer mentoring program. The purpose of the peer mentoring program is to help first-year students become knowledgeable and comfortable with the UTK campus, Student Disability Services, and college life in general. Peer mentors are current UTK students who are also registered with Student Disability Services.
To develop an appropriate relationship with their first-year students, mentors will conduct themselves with maturity, civility, and a caring attitude. You can expect your peer mentor to:
- Meet with you one hour per week;
- Attend one campus program or event with you;
- Be available, within reason, to respond to quick questions via email, phone, or text that you might have throughout the week;
- Treat you with dignity and respect and maintain a positive attitude;
- Assist you with adjusting to the responsibilities of college;
- Be reliable and follow through with what they say they will do;
- Maintain the confidentiality of all conversations;
- And refer you to various campus resources, as appropriate.
As a mentee, you will be asked to:
- Meet with your peer mentor one hour per week;
- Attend one campus program or event with your mentor;
- Arrive for all scheduled meetings with your mentor, providing advance notice when you cannot attend;
- Be open and willing to ask for guidance;
- And maintain the confidentiality of all conversations between you and your peer mentor.
- Notify Student Disability Services immediately if you have any concerns or questions related to peer mentoring.