Virginia Tech’s Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity (CEED) has created the peer mentoring program to help the next wave of engineering freshmen experience a smooth transition into college life while making connections with their peers and upperclassmen mentors.
What is the CEED peer mentoring program?
Calling all incoming engineering freshmen! Don’t miss out on your opportunity to register for the CEED Peer Mentoring program. The Academic Hispanic OutReach Alliance (AHORA), Black Engineering Support Teams (BEST), General Undergraduate Engineering Support Teams (GUEST), and Women in Engineering Support Teams (WEST) are the four main mentoring groups you can choose to register for. If you are able to apply to several of these groups, be sure to apply to the one you believe you’ll be the most comfortable in. It is an amazing opportunity to meet and interact with other students in your same major while having a mentor available to help you in your first semester at Virginia Tech! Mentoring group’s first meeting, playing volleyball! Instagram @vt_ceed_pmvt_ceed_pm.
Being a Mentee
Before your first semester begins, you’ll receive a call from your mentor where you can get to know each other and ask any questions you have before you arrive on campus. The program consists of weekly meetings the first ten weeks of your fall semester. At these meetings, mentors provide valuable information ranging from how to be prepared for school to plans for your sophomore year. Courtesy of CEED, mentor groups are also able to have occasional meals off-campus to catch a break from the stress of the semester by socializing and getting to know each other better. It is an amazing opportunity to meet and interact with other students in your same major while having a mentor available to help you in your first semester at Virginia Tech!
Why Should You Join?
Mentors are an amazing resource and truly want to help you succeed. They can offer advice on academics such as study tips and how to prepare for exams. They can also provide help on topics such as off-campus housing, internships, jobs, and more. The mentors are there to provide support, so don’t be afraid to reach out and ask questions. Even at the end of the program, you are always encouraged to reach out to your mentor in the future with any questions or concerns you may have, because they are still always available to help. Being a part of the peer mentoring program also introduces you to a group of incoming freshmen that may come from similar backgrounds as you, allowing you to make friends and find familiar faces around campus very quickly. Remember to try staying in touch, studying together, and helping each other succeed!
Be on the Lookout for these Big Events
Throughout the mentoring period, CEED hosts a few large events to help students navigate the engineering opportunities here on campus. The first event of the program is the Welcome Event where you meet your mentor and peers for the first time. This is later followed by an Engineering Expo prep session to make sure you know how to prepare, dress, and impress at Expo. They run down the basics of resumes, elevator pitches, and attire to make sure you have an amazing experience at the Engineering Expo. The second major event that is hosted is Major Scoop where upperclassmen students from the different engineering majors are available to answer your questions regarding their majors and experience while enjoying some ice cream. The final event of the mentoring program is the Mentor Celebration which is the culmination of the ten week period. You are able to meet up with your mentor group and have the chance to meet fellow peers who were also a part of the program and celebrate the end of a successful first ten weeks!
We Want YOU
Be an influential part of the lives of incoming freshmen these next few years by becoming a peer mentor! With resources to help guide you, training, and peer mentor leaders, CEED makes sure you are fully prepared to help your mentees throughout the program. There is a training session in April where mentors learn the important aspects about being a mentor. During the training, the mentors are able to get to know each other to provide each other support throughout the program as well. Throughout the first ten weeks of the fall semester, mentors attend weekly meetings with their peer leaders. Here, the mentors go over the important information they will share with their mentees at their weekly meetings by going over the key details with their designated peer leader. Applications to become a CEED mentor closed February 3, 2023, so congratulations to all the mentors this upcoming fall semester! To those who didn’t get the chance to apply, don’t miss out on the opportunity next year to help our incoming freshman transition to college life!
Comments