Peer Mentors

FYS Peer Mentor responsibilities vary from professor to another, but include some or all of the following: 

• Participating in a spring semester training session
• Participating in August training (typically 2 days before first-year students arrive)
• Assisting with beginning-of-year orientation for freshmen 
• Helping freshmen with registration 
• Attending (and preparing for) the FYS class as instructed by the professor 
• Helping with the FYS class, which may include some of the following: 
  • Grading, testing and other teaching assistant activities as agreed to by the professor 
  • Assisting freshmen with writing skills if requested by the professor 
  • Teaching a class session if requested by the professor 
  • Coordinating with professor and/or professional staff as needed to respond to personal crises freshmen may confide to you as a student leader. 

Yes!  Each FYS peer mentor enrolls in FYS 245, a 1.0 credit course taken S/D/U in the fall semester.  The position is not otherwise paid or compensated.  Most peer mentors use FYS 245 as their fourth course, but you can also take it as a fifth course on top of your other planned coursework.  If you’re unsure if it will fit into your academic plan, be sure to talk to your mentor.

There is an online application form for you to fill out. Please read the following instructions carefully.

• If a specific FYS professor has asked you to apply to be one of their FSLs, then in Step #2 of the application, select that professor’s name.
• If you would like to be considered by any FYS professor to be one of their FSLs, then in Step #2 of the application select “Open Applicant.” (Please note that not all FYS professors consider open applicants).
  • NOTE: when you apply, you will be asked to submit the email address of a faculty member to serve as a reference. Please be sure you have contacted that faculty member beforehand to ask them to serve as your reference prior to submitting their email address.

• Andy Carr
• Kelli Carroll
• Patrick Duffey
• Matt Findley
• Colin Foss
• Jeff Fontana
• Alex Garganigo
• Ruchan Kaya
• Keith Kisselle
• Scott Langton
• John McGinn
• Huy Nguyen
• Steve Ramsey
• Frank Rohmer
• Mark Smith
• Lisha Daniels Storey
• Martin Wells

Yes – you cannot be an Peer Mentor if (a) you have already served as an Peer Mentor (or FSL/CL) before, or (b) if you will be on academic or social probation during fall term you wish to serve as an Peer Mentor. 

No. Each professor is responsible for choosing their Peer Mentors, and if the number of applicants exceeds the number of Peer Mentors needed, you may not be chosen. 

Yes; everyone who wishes to be a Peer Mentor must complete the application. 

Yes.  While many professors actively seek out specific students to serve as Peer Mentors, others choose their Peer Mentors from those who apply as “open applicants.” Hence the sooner you complete your application, the better your chances of being considered for a Peer Mentor position. 

Yes, so long as you understand that some professors may tell you they have already chosen their Peer Mentors. 

Yes, but be sure to read over the Austin College Bulletin description of First-Year Seminar so you understand what the program entails. 

No.  These are required elements of being a Peer Mentor, and hence if you cannot attend all these events, you should not apply.

No, you cannot.

Contact Erin Copple Smith, Director of First-Year Experience (firstyear@austincollege.edu)