Peer Mentor Program
About the Program
What is it?
The Peer Mentor Program seeks to provide opportunities for students who desire to engage in conversations about the complexities of identity as they impact their educational experience at Reed and beyond. Through matching incoming students with mentors, the hope is that new students will have a reference point for understanding the complexities of either being a student from an underrepresented racial/ethnic community at Reed or being a student who is interested in contributing to making the Reed environment supportive for everyone regardless of race, class, gender, or sexual orientation, or religious practice.
Typically students who have participated in this program identify as being the first in their family to attend college, students of color, and students from any background who simply have a desire to engage in conversations about the range of intersecting issues associated with diversity and oppression.
How does it work?
Incoming students who are interested in participating should complete the on-line application; please call us if you need an application mailed to you, and return the application promptly. Because we only have 30 mentors available for the upcoming school year, individuals will be matched according to the arrival of their application. Those we are unable to match will be placed on a waiting list in case a student ends up dropping out of the program, or in the event a mentor-mentee match is unsuccessful.
Please note that there is a pre-orientation retreat for this program that happens the day before orientation - be sure to let us know if you can attend this retreat. We match students according to information they share on the applications. While not everyone will have something specific in common with their mentor, we sometimes do matches according to what we may know about the personalities of some mentors and incoming students. This isn’t a perfect science, but we try our best!
Who are the mentors and liaisons?
Mentors are returning students who have completed an application and interview process, and demonstrate a commitment to making Reed a comfortable environment for all students. Staff and faculty liaisons provide additional support and connection to the mentors and mentees. The liaison' central responsibility is to check-in with the mentors, and occasionally do activities as a mentoring triad.
Desired Outcomes
Some of the things we hope mentors and mentees will gain from their experiences:
- Provide opportunities for students to address the range of diverse identities, perspectives and experiences that impact their learning experience at Reed.
- Offer a space for students to address their transition to the Reed culture.
- Create a space where students feel comfortable expressing themselves intellectually and emotionally.
- Support the development of ongoing, meaningful relationships.
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