Peer Mentoring Program Overview
The BMEN Peer Mentoring Program is designed to provide academic and social support to Black male students entering UAB. The overall goal of the Peer Mentoring Program is to improve the quality of life for the new student by partnering a returning student with a new student. Additionally, we intend to increase student retention and to provide an on-going orientation to all aspects of the University during the first year.
Helping You, Help Others
At UAB, improving the retention and graduation rates of its students is a primary objective of the University. Nationally, black males have the lowest retention rate of any group on most college campuses. The BMEN Peer Mentoring Program is one way to connect black males to the University and help them successfully transition to UAB.
Program Objectives
- Provide students with the resources, via their mentors, that will enable them to achieve their educational goals.
- Increase retention and graduation rates by providing students with valuable information via their mentors
- Provide mentors and mentees with the opportunity to become leaders.
- Help mentors and mentees grow personally, intellectually, and professionally, and share and apply new knowledge and information to their mentor and mentee roles.
- Enhance the relationship between the University and its students.
Mentors
Serving as role models, counselors and motivators, the mentors will use their knowlege and expertise to help students succeed. The mentor's responsibility is to help the mentee take responsibility for their own skills and behavior. This assistance should guide the mentee to academic and social integration, increased self-esteem, higher grades, and greater self perceived intellectual growth. To ensure that they are adequately prepared, the mentor undergoes training to insure that he knows how to respond to the mentee's needs.
The Mentor/Mentee Relationship
Generally, mentors communicate with their mentee(s) once a week during the fall semester via email, telephone calls, or face-to-face. Mentors may talk about personal experiences and/or give academic advice and guidance.
Mentors and mentees will determine schedules and interactions/activities. Mentors are expected to submit a brief report once a month. The purpose of monthly reports is to assist the BMEN Coordinator in identifying special needs/concerns of students.
Mentors are expected to guide mentees to try new skills and to take risks that will help them gain more experiences.
Advantages of the Peer Mentoring Program
Both mentors and mentees can gain substantially from the program. Past members have developed new friendships and relationships.
After successful completion of the program, mentees have the opportunity to become a mentor themselves. The program is designed to help members recognize they can make a difference and feel a part of the UAB community by sharing individual strengths and abilities.
The program is also helpful to increase one's self-awareness and self-discipline which can be helpful to gain more out of one's education and experiences at UAB.
The Peer Mentoring Program is based on two basic premises:
- Students are uniquely qualified to help other students succeed.
- Students learn best in an environment of friendship and encouragement.
Apply to become a mentor
The Blazer Male Excellence Network will be accepting applications for Mentors for the 2011-2012 school year.
Applications are available in HUC 440, or may be downloaded below.
Applications are due on March 21, 2011 at noon in HUC 440.
2011 BMEN Mentor Application (Word doc)
For more information, contact the Office of Student Involvement.
Office of Student Involvement
Univeristy of Alabama at Birmingham
Hill University Center, Room 133
1400 University Boulevard
Birmingham, AL 35294
Phone: (205) 975-9509