Fall 2006 marked the beginning of the Peer Mentoring Program at the School of Continuing Education.
Many of our alumni and continuing students had expressed a desire to join in activities on the main campus to enhance and enrich adult education. This program pairs up seasoned adult with a new or returning student. Mentors will have basic training they need to assist and explain the various academic supports, buildings and processes that exist at Marist. Listening, understanding, guidance and interpersonal support increase the successful completion of a bachelor degree.
Adults have to deal with many pressures while attending classes either in class or online. Homes, work, children, parents, births and our significant others make life full and busy. Adding educational goals can be distressful in the beginning until the student is able to make adjustments. The experiences of other students with similar life experiences can make the difference between giving up and/or postponing classes.
Most of our students have been through a public community college and do not know what to expect at Marist College. The student transitions to the junior and senior level classes in their career field requiring different skills. Faculty expects a progression in the student's ability to think, evaluate and inter-relate knowledge gained in other course work, especially the core requirements. To ease this transition, another adult student who has gone through the first semester jitters will make a dramatic impact.
***All new students will be assigned a mentor and will be paired on similar interests, degree declared, age and evening/day attendance.
