GPMP Program Description
The Graduate Peer Mentoring Program (GPMP) connects graduate students to a peer mentor who helps them access resources, find answers to questions, and navigate graduate student life. GPMP aims to foster communities of support for new and returning CSU graduate students by engaging their strengths, identities, and experiences.
The roles of “mentor” and “mentee” are not a reflection of student ability, skills, and/or potential. Roles are primarily assigned for training and tracking purposes. The program’s main goal is to provide graduate students with a peer-to-peer connection.
Graduate students are partnered with a peer based on their application preferences such as field of study, degree compatibility, and social identities.
All participants are highly encouraged to attend the GPMP ‘Kickoff’ event on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, 4:00 – 5:30 pm and additional GPMP community events/meet-up opportunities throughout the semester.
Important information:
- An application is not a guarantee of participation in GPMP.
- Matches are not based on one specific criteria; it is common to be matched with someone in a completely different field or study/discipline. One goal of GPMP is to foster community across all university graduate programs.
- Mentor/Mentee matches prioritize the mentee’s application preferences.
- Your department might offer a separate mentoring program not associated with GPMP.
- GPMP is a voluntary program, but once matched, we require a full year of participation from you
Mentee Information
Eligibility:
- CSU graduate students enrolled in credit-bearing courses who are seeking a degree can apply (guests are not eligible at this time).
- Graduate students must apply to be a mentee by 11:59 pm on Sunday, April 14, 2024.
Benefits of being a mentee:
- Gain practical advice, encouragement, and support.
- Improve communication and networking skills.
- Learn from the experiences of others.
- Increase social and academic confidence.
- Develop strategies for dealing with academic and personal issues.
- Identify academic and personal goals and establish a sense of direction.
- Greater understanding of CSU resources and processes.
- Gain valuable insights into the next stage(s) of your career.
- Make new friends across multiple disciplines.
- Be entered to win prizes at GPMP events.
Mentee role responsibilities:
- Commit to the role for Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 semesters.
- Attend the kickoff event on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, 4:00 – 5:30 pm (food provided).
- Check in or meet with your mentor at least twice a semester (self-scheduled).
- Communicate with and respond to your mentor.
- Attend GPMP events.
- Serve as a role model for other graduate students, academically and socially.
Mentor Role Information
Eligibility:
- CSU graduate students enrolled in credit-bearing courses who are seeking a degree can apply (guests are not eligible at this time).
- Must have completed two semesters of graduate school at CSU.
- Must be in good academic standing (3.0 GPA or above).
- Graduate students must apply by 11:59 pm on Sunday, April 14, 2024.
Benefits of being a mentor:
- Develop leadership and organizational skills.
- Improve communication and interpersonal skills.
- Increase confidence and motivation.
- Enhance resume with valuable volunteer experience.
- Make connections across disciplines and build your network.
- Greater understanding of CSU resources and processes.
- Serve as an ambassador and promote campus resources.
- Give back to the CSU graduate community.
- Be entered to win random prizes at GPMP events.
Mentor role requirements and responsibilities
- Commit to mentor role for Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 semesters.
- Mentors will be assigned up to two (2) mentees.
- Check in or meet with your mentee(s) at least twice a semester (self-scheduled, 15 – 60 minutes).
- Guide mentee(s) toward making positive choices around academic achievement, self-care, and professional development through personal example and empathy.
- Connect mentee(s) with campus resources and opportunities.
- Respond to your mentee(s) when they reach out.
- Document interaction with mentee(s) in the GPMP tracking system.
Once accepted, mentors are required to attend one 2.5-hour mentor orientation session.
Save the date for one orientation session, options listed below:
- Session 1, Monday, Aug. 12: 8:30 – 11:00 a.m. VIRTUAL, for CSU-online students only.
- Session 2, Tuesday, Aug. 13: 11:30 – 2:00 p.m. In-person, food and drinks will be provided.
- Session 3, Wednesday, Aug. 14: 5:00 – 7:30 p.m. In-person, food and drinks will be provided.
Questions?
Contact Carolina.Banuelos@colostate.edu