Graduate Peer Mentor Program
The Graduate Peer Mentor Program is a School of Graduate Studies initiative that strengthens graduate student experience through peer‑based mentoring, facilitation, and resource connection.
The Graduate Peer Mentor Program aims to support graduate student well-being and success, normalize challenges across the graduate journey, increase awareness and use of SGS supports, foster belonging and connection across graduate programs, develop graduate students as ethical, inclusive peer leaders, and create sustainable, student‑led support infrastructure. All graduate students are available to access peer mentoring services.
Program Structure
The Graduate Peer Mentor Program is a self‑supporting graduate program with distinct but collaborative roles. Together, these roles ensure the program remains responsive, ethical, and sustainable.
The Graduate Peer Mentor, Oversight Graduate Assistant, and Outreach Graduate Assistant roles are available to graduate students through a competitive selection process and are designed to reflect a range of disciplines, lived experiences, and stages of graduate study.
- Provide one-to-one and group peer mentoring
- Normalize graduate experiences and transitions
- Support reflection, goal‑setting, and navigation
- Connect students to SGS and campus resources
- Work within clearly defined boundaries and referral pathways
- Strengthens visibility and awareness of the program
- Supports communication, promotion, and engagement
- Helps connect graduate students to mentoring opportunities
- Builds relationships between SGS initiatives and the graduate community
- Coordinates and supports the overall program
- Ensures ethical practice, consistency, and quality
- Supports training, reflection, and professional development
- Acts as a point of accountability and escalation when needed
The program also provides graduate students in mentoring, oversight, and outreach roles with structured professional development, leadership experience, and transferable employment skills.
All Graduate Peer Mentors and GAs engage in ongoing training and reflective practice, including: role clarity and professionalism, ethics, boundaries, and referral, inclusive communication and facilitation, navigating complex or ambiguous student situations, program evaluation and continuous improvement, and career articulation and transferable skill development. Training emphasizes judgment, responsibility, and collaboration, rather than advice‑giving or problem‑solving.
Participation in the Graduate Peer Mentor Program supports development in nationally recognized skill areas, including: professional communication, leadership and teamwork, equity, diversity, and inclusion, teaching and mentorship, and project and program coordination. The program is intentionally framed as paid, professional graduate experience, not volunteer services.
School of Graduate Studies (SGS) Events & Programs
The School of Graduate Studies hosts a variety of events and programs throughout the year to support student success, foster connections, and strengthen the graduate student community. Graduate Peer Mentors contribute to many of these initiatives by welcoming students, facilitating engagement opportunities, sharing their experiences, and helping create a supportive and inclusive environment for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.
Graduate Peer Mentors support New Graduate Student Orientation by welcoming incoming students and helping them navigate the transition to graduate studies. Mentors participate throughout the orientation program, providing guidance on resources, processes, and opportunities for engagement within the graduate community.
The School of Graduate Studies Welcome Booth serves as an informal point of connection for new graduate students at the beginning of the academic year. Staff and Graduate Peer Mentors provide information about campus resources, answer questions, and help students become familiar with services and supports available through the School of Graduate Studies.
The Fall Welcome is an annual community-building event that brings together graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and campus partners at the start of the academic year. The event provides opportunities for participants to connect with peers, learn about available resources, and engage with the graduate community in a welcoming environment.
The SGS Summer Series supports graduate students and postdoctoral scholars throughout the summer months by providing opportunities for connection, accountability, and focused work. The series combines community-building initiatives with dedicated sessions designed to help participants maintain momentum on their research, writing, and academic goals.
The Fall End-of-Term Celebration offers graduate students an opportunity to connect with peers and mark the conclusion of the academic term. The event promotes community engagement and provides a space for students to reflect on their achievements while strengthening relationships within the graduate community.
The SGS Winter Welcome marks the beginning of the winter semester and provides an opportunity for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to reconnect with the graduate community. The event highlights available supports and resources while fostering connections among students, staff, and campus partners.
The Winter End-of-Term Celebration recognizes the accomplishments of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows as the semester concludes. The event provides an opportunity for participants to connect with peers, reflect on the term, and strengthen community relationships before the winter break.
Graduate Peer Mentor Drop-Ins are informal community-building events that provide graduate students with opportunities to connect with peers from across disciplines. These gatherings encourage networking, conversation, and a sense of belonging while offering a supportive space away from academic responsibilities.
The SGS Writing Group provides graduate students with dedicated time and space to focus on writing and research activities. These drop-in sessions foster productivity and accountability in a supportive environment where participants can make progress on academic and scholarly projects.
Gradhacks
Grad Hacks is a collection of videos developed by Graduate Peer Mentors that shares practical advice, tips, and lessons learned from graduate student experiences. From preparing conference presentations and writing a thesis to avoiding procrastination and overcoming perfectionism, these videos support students throughout their graduate journey.
Preventing and Coping with BurnoutConference Presentation TipsTime Management
Meet the Graduate Peer Mentors
Follow this link to meet the Graduate Peer Mentors & Graduate Peer Mentor Support.