Peer Mentoring Program

In Fall 2018, the Office of Global Affairs (OGA) partnered with Mentor Collective to successfully launch the Peer Mentoring Program for first-year international students (mentees). A result of the International Student Success Task Force, the program recruited upperclassmen to mentor international students throughout their first year at Stony Brook.

The Peer Mentoring Program has far exceeded initial expectations. A total of 233 mentees were matched with 78 mentors, and together they have logged over 1,200 conversations. Active pairs reported an average of more than 10 conversations since the start of the program, and feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Mentees have expressed their appreciation of having a peer to connect with who can relate to their situation and can provide accurate advice.

The mentors, who completed a series of in-person and online orientations, were trained on strategies to connect with their students and guide them through topics like academics, extracurricular activities, campus life, and career goals. Mentors have been particularly effective at getting new international students to participate in clubs and campus events, often setting up challenges for their mentees to explore new activities. As they connected with their mentees, mentors reported back to OGA, identifying potential areas for increased University support.

The Peer Mentoring Program will continue in the 2019/20 academic year with modifications based on identified student needs. New initiatives include partnering with the Center for Prevention and Outreach to add sessions on mental health awareness, increasing opportunities for mentor-mentee connections both in-person and online, and following up on student outcomes.