Roundtable Peer Mentoring
The Roundtable Peer Mentoring program assists students with their academic and personal acclimation to Middle Georgia State University. Assistance includes, but is not limited to, orienting assigned students to campus, connecting students with academic support centers, and modeling good study skills. Mentors offer semester-long support to assigned mentees. Mentors offer study hall sessions to support the residential and student athlete population.
Who can benefit from a mentor?
- Any MGA student
- Any student who wants academic support
- First-time students
Goals
- Connect students with resources for success
- Connect students to the MGA community, fostering a sense of belonging
- Model and teach good study habits
- Promote having a positive growth mindset is key to overcoming challenges
- Help students develop achievable goals and provide students with the tools to achieve those goals
- Help students stay accountable
Top four mentoring activities
- One-to-one mentoring
- Hosting study halls across campus (within the dorms and the libraries)
- Developing and hosting workshops which provide students with good study skills (notetaking, studying for finals)
- Developing and hosting social events (painting, Bingo, festival, etc.) across campuses to encourage students to become more engaged in MGA life.
Purpose of one-to-one mentoring
- Individualized Support: Check-ins allow mentors to address the unique needs, concerns, and goals of each mentee, providing tailored guidance.
- Building Trust and Rapport: Regular one-on-one interactions foster a strong mentor-mentee relationship, creating a safe space for open communication and trust.
- Monitoring Progress: Mentors can track the academic and personal progress of their mentees, identifying areas of improvement and celebrating achievements.
- Problem-Solving: Check-ins provide an opportunity to discuss challenges or obstacles the mentee may be facing and work together to develop effective solutions.
- Setting and Refining Goals: Mentors can help mentees establish SMART goals and provide ongoing guidance to ensure progress.
- Offering Encouragement and Motivation: Mentors provide encouragement, affirmations, and motivation, boosting the mentee's confidence and self-belief.
- Providing Constructive Feedback: Mentors can offer constructive feedback on academic performance, study habits, and personal development, guiding the mentee towards improvement.
- Connecting with Resources: Mentors can suggest and connect mentees with relevant resources, support services, and campus opportunities. New students may be unfamiliar with the resources that are available across our campuses.
- Strengthening Accountability: Regular check-ins help keep mentees accountable for their commitments, encouraging a sense of responsibility and ownership. Mentors gently challenge students to exceed their expectations of themselves.