Leadership Opportunities

Peer Mentorship Program

Students who wish to spend a second year in the Living ArtsEngine community may apply to be peer mentors. The mission of the Living ArtsEngine Peer Mentor Program is to support first-year students’ transitions to college by providing second-year students with the necessary tools to cultivate an enriching experience in which mentors are inspired to become creative leaders that confidently contribute to the university and beyond.

students standing next to Block M
four students gathered in front of laptop

Living ArtsEngine peer mentors live in the Living ArtsEngine residential community in Bursley Hall and play an essential role in creating the Living ArtsEngine Community in three ways:

1. Living ArtsEngine peer mentors work closely with their mentees on a year-long Collaborative Creative Project (CCP). Each CCP group consists of approximately 4 students who are new to Living ArtsEngine and one Peer Mentor. CCP groups will meet each month to participate in community challenges and to work on their Collaborative Creative Project to be presented at the Living ArtsEngine Symposium in April. Peer mentors may be eligible to earn credit toward the minor in Multidisciplinary Design for leading the Collaborative Creative Project.

2. Living ArtsEngine peer mentors assume active leadership roles in the Living ArtsEngine community.

3. Living ArtsEngine peer mentors meet informally with their mentees and introduce them to the resources of UM’s Campus.

three students planting succulent in pot

Grounded in student development theory and molded from the University Learning Outcomes, the goals of the Peer Mentorship Program are designed to develop and hone the skills of the second year leaders in our program, while benefiting the first-year community.

The Peer Mentorship Program has five key goals:

1. Peer mentors will develop their skills in mentoring others and understanding how this experience will benefit them academically, personally, and professionally

2. Peer mentors will develop a clearer sense of their style of leadership

3. Peer mentors will learn how to build community among people of different backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives

4. Peer mentors will learn to effectively manage an interdisciplinary project from beginning to end in order to reach a desired outcome

5. Peer mentors will reflect upon their growth throughout the year and ways to apply it to their future in college and beyond

three students planting succulent in pot