Finding your footing in a new academic year comes with plenty of questions. Some are easy to look up, like: "Where is my classroom?" or "When is the deadline to drop a course?" But other questions are easier to answer with help from someone who has already been there.
That’s where peer mentorship comes in. Peer mentors are fellow students who can share what they have learned from navigating university life themselves. They can help you find campus resources, talk through academic challenges, find ways to get involved at York and feel more connected to the community.
A little insider knowledge goes a long way
Maybe you’re wondering how to get involved outside class, where to go when you need academic support or how other students manage a busy course load. While peer mentors don’t replace academic advisors or other professional supports, they can share what worked for them, point you in the right direction and help you find the resources you need.
There’s also value in getting to know someone outside your usual circle of classmates. An upper-year student can introduce you to opportunities you might not have come across otherwise, share a different perspective on university life and help you feel more connected to the York community along the way.
Explore peer mentorship at York
There are peer mentorship opportunities across York for students with different interests, programs and experiences. Here are just a few examples:
- Bethune College and the Calumet and Stong Colleges Peer Mentoring Program connect new and transfer students with mentors or mentor groups. Mentees can attend peer mentor events and receive support with academic and personal development.
- Black Excellence at York University (BE YU) connects Black students with upper-year undergraduate peer mentors from the same program or Faculty to provide guidance, insight and encouragement.
- The Atkinson Centre for Mature and Part-time Students (ACMAPS) offers peer mentorship for mature students. Mature student mentors can provide guidance, answer questions and help students navigate university throughout their studies.
- The Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS) hosts a Peer Support Team, while the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change (EUC) also has an undergraduate peer mentor program for students in all their programs.
- York First Friend International Peer Mentorship Program connects incoming LA&PS international students with an upper-year student who can help with any questions and provide insider tips about moving to Canada and transitioning to York.
These are just some of the many peer mentor programs offered at York. Attend Peer Mentor Day on Wednesday, September 23 to meet mentors from across the University, ask questions and make connections! Mentorship events are happening at Keele, Markham and Glendon campuses.
University can be much easier to navigate when you do not have to figure everything out on your own. A conversation with someone who has already been in your shoes might be exactly the place to start.