Peer Mentor 2020 Application

The Plan II Program is seeking peer mentors for 2020-2021! We are making significant changes to the Peer Mentor Program (including that peer mentors will be PAID POSITIONS), so please read this email carefully before applying. We are very excited about these changes and hope they will make peer mentoring even more positive for everyone involved!

Eligibility for Plan II Peer Mentors:

• In Fall 2020, be a third, fourth, or fifth year Plan II student
• 3.0 cumulative UT GPA

Commitment for Plan II Peer Mentors:

• Enroll in T C 125K, tentatively titled “Perspectives” that will be strongly encouraged for all incoming Plan II freshmen. Mentors will also be enrolled, in order to be part of the dialogue. T C 125K will meet every other Wednesday during Fall 2020 from 5-6pm, so peer mentors must be available at this time.
• Lead a Mentee Pod of 10-12 freshmen on the alternating weeks when T C 125K does not meet. There will be a variety of times for these discussion sections, and peer mentors will be assigned based on need and their availability.
• Participate with your Mentee Pod in approximately three activities, such as the following, throughout the semester:
  • A common reading experience
  • Service project
  • Dr. Edmund Gordon’s Racial Campus Tour

• Time commitment will vary from 1-4 hours per week, depending on whether it’s a T C 125K week, a discussion section week (where you will likely need prep time), or if an additional activity is taking place such as the ones mentioned above.

Benefits for Plan II Peer Mentors:

• Peer mentors will earn $10/hour. We expect this to ultimately total approximately $500 for the Fall semester.
• Positively impacting your Mentee Pod students
• Gaining important skills in mentoring and leadership

To apply, submit your response to the Plan II Peer Mentor Application 2020-2021 by April 13, 2020.

• The application requires a personal statement (max. 2 pages) responding to the following prompts:
  • Why do you want to be a Plan II peer mentor?
  • What makes an effective Plan II peer mentor?
  • What do you wish you had known during your first semester at UT?
  • What do you feel is important for freshmen to know about being part of the Plan II community?

• The application also requires a recommendation from someone who can indicate your potential/knowledge/abilities regarding leadership, maturity, dependability, and social justice issues. The survey is brief and should only require a few minutes to complete. Here is the link you can provide to your recommender: Plan II Peer Mentor Recommendation Form

**Please note: the recommendation must also be submitted by the application deadline noted above.

Please contact Peggy Sharp at peggysharp@austin.utexas.edu if you have any questions about the application or peer mentor program.