Twice a year, thousands of students enrol for the first time in university. They choose degrees, subjects and classes that they think they’ll like or that will help them enter a chosen profession or field of study.
It’s a large transition to make and as a result there are many questions to ask. So who is there to answer them?
The START Mentoring program started in 2008 and pairs up senior students with new undergraduates to help them make the transition to university life. During Semester 1, 2013, it was a group of senior student mentors who stepped up to answer questions, offer advice and support and encourage several student mentees who were just starting out in their degrees.
69 of these mentors were nominated by their mentees as Outstanding Mentors, with 94 nominations in total and some of the mentors being nominated by up to four different student mentees.
The 69 mentors received a certificate acknowledging their contribution and support from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Education, Professor Jill Downie, at the Outstanding Mentor Morning Tea held recently at the John Curtin Gallery.
The support mentees receive is greatly appreciated.
Physiotherapy student Goshka Alvary cited how hard her mentor Namoi Michaels worked.
“Her communication with the group is infallible, and she always covers events and things we may need to be aware of in depth,” Ms Alvary says. “I don’t know how she does it – I barely find time to respond to her with my work load.”
“Matthew has been an outstanding mentor,” says Michelle Manowski, a Business studies student, about her mentor Matthew Gherardi.
“He regularly emails with helpful and handy tips and suggestions to help make the transition to first semester as smooth as possible. On a number of occasions I have emailed him with questions and he has responded extremely promptly with sound advice.”
You can see the list of all the student mentors acknowledged for their support by their mentees during Semester 1, 2013.
To become a mentor or mentee, contact the START Mentoring Program Coordinators.
