Mentor Program

Mentor 2008 Image of Girl and BoyThe change to university life can be challenging. Whether you are coming to university from high school, TAFE, the work force or another path, there will be common challenges to overcome. These might include finding somewhere to live, having to build a new network of friends, and managing a busy work/home/study life.

To support your transition to university, UB provides you with a Mentor who is in the second or third year of your course. Having already experienced life at UB, Mentors provide first-hand support to new students in the first few weeks of their study, when it matters most.

Starting in Orientation Week, your Mentor:

  • provides access to a student network in your course
  • introduces you to the student support structures at UB, and
  • orientates you to the campus, the lingo and academic expectations.

More broadly, the Mentor Program:

  • creates awareness of transition issues experienced in the first year at UB
  • provides a framework for constructive interaction between new students, mentors and staff, and
  • enables new students to embrace the challenges and opportunities that university offers.

During the first few weeks of the semester, Mentors coordinate weekly meetings with a small group of first-year students. Meetings can include activities and discussion of issues such as academic requirements, where to find goods and services at student prices, and how to survive university life.

If you miss O Week, you can meet your Mentor in the first week of lectures. Look out in your School area for the Mentor notice board - you'll find your name listed under a photograph of your Mentor, along with meeting information and how to contact them.

Join the UB Mentor family

If you are interested in helping smooth the transition for first-year students, develop your leadership and interpersonal skills, and earn an income while you study, this may be the job for you. Recruitment of senior students to be Mentors occurs in September each year.

To be eligible, you must have completed at least one year of an undergraduate program at UB, and be enrolled full-time in undergraduate study for the duration of the Mentor Program.  Read more about the role and responsibilities here: Student Mentor Expression of Interest (pdf, 45kb)

We are now recruiting for 2013!!  If you believe you have what it takes to be a member of the 2013 UB Mentor team download the Application Form (docx, 1.33mb), fill it out and email it, along with your selection criteria and resume, to ub.mentors@ballarat.edu.au  


For further information on the program, contact:

The Centre for Learning Innovation & Professional Practice (CLIPP)
Telephone: 5327 6151
Email:  clipp@ballarat.edu.au

 

Mentor program at UB:

Download Flyer (pdf, 697kb)