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How To Get Involved
- Mentoring |
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- PEER (Positive Experiences, Enriching Relationships) [mentee form/mentor form]
APASS and the Student Counseling Services match continuing APA students with first-year students (freshmen and transfers) to help them with the transition of college life and to be more familiar with university resources.
The APA PEER program is a collaborative project between APASS and the USC Student Counseling Services. PEER matches continuing APA students with first-year students (freshmen and transfers) in a one-on-one mentoring relationship. The relationship to designed to help the first-year student adjust to campus life, become more familiar with university resources, and successfully negotiate personal issues that may arise. Mentors are recruited and trained in early Fall, and mentees are recruited starting mid-October. PEER will continue to accept applications through the beginning of the Spring semester. If you are a first-year USC APA student and would like to be a mentee, please contact APASS at (213) 740-4999 or e-mail apass@usc.edu. APA PEER Mentee applications are also available online.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) about the PEER program
Who should apply to be a mentee?
First-year Asian Pacific American students who feel like they would benefit from personal advisement should apply to be a mentee. Potential mentees are typically not involved in campus life activities. Potential mentees may also be candidates for professional counseling and are therefore not suitable for the PEER program.What are the selection criteria for mentors?
Mentors must be continuing APA students. Mentors are selected because of their well-rounded USC experience or knowledge and based on their general disposition towards counseling. Mentors are also expected to have a significantly developed sense of self (ethnic, gender, and sexuality, etc.)Will the PEER mentor become friends with his/her mentee??
While friendship is a possibility after the PEER relationship has ended, mentors are generally discouraged from forming traditional friendships during the actual relationship. This is to ensure that the mentor maintains an objective viewpoint on the issues that may arise in the mentee's life. The mentor will, however, be able to help the mentee adjust socially by suggesting ways that he/she can meet new people.Can mentors act as academic tutors for the mentee??
No, the mentor is not trained to tutor mentees. However, if the mentee is in need of academic support, the mentor will be able to direct him/her to the proper university resources and services.What topics have come up in previous PEER relationships?
Mentors have dealt with a wide range of topics during the PEER relationships. For example, issues regarding APA identity, sexual orientation, sexual behavior, substance abuse, parental pressure, academic support, and social adjustment have all come up in the past. - Career Mentor [mentee form/mentor form]
APA Career Mentoring is a special program made possible because of APASS' unique relationship with alumni through the Asian Pacific American Support Group. The APASG and APASS sponsor a career mentoring program that matches undergraduate students with alumni and other professionals who volunteer their time to meet with students once a month for nearly an entire school year. Students and their mentors are invited to special events and are encouraged to create their own opportunities for interaction.
In addition to the Career Mentoring program, APASS will be launching a new program: Career Explorations in conjunction with the Career Planning and Placement Services. Explorations will be a series of three career workshops custom-designed for the APA student population. These will be focused on defining a career path and not on job skills or marketing. Explorations will continue in the Spring with three career panels with APA professionals from specific fields.
Enriching the USC student experience is a key objective of the APASG. The APASG Mentor Program accomplishes this by linking undergraduate students with Asian Pacific American professionals who share their personal interests, career goals, and/or ethnicity. It focuses on fostering continuing interaction between current students and individuals who are interested in supporting USC and its Asian Pacific American student population. The Career Mentor Program provides students with opportunities to develop productive relationships with professionals who can serve as their role models and friends. Mentors offer mentees knowledge and guidance that are not readily available through the classroom.
We are continuously looking for new alumni and professionals to match up with students throughout the year. We make information connections throughout the year. It's never too late to help out! Mentors in the areas of Business, Economics, Dentistry, Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Law, Medicine, Public Policy and Management, and Film are especially needed.
Time Commitment
The annual cycle of the Mentor Program begins in the fall semester and continues until the end of the USC academic year next May. Because a successful mentoring relationship requires active participation, we ask that mentors and mentees have in-person contact with each other at least once a month and maintain communications on a regular basis.
Who Can Participate?
Any professional, regardless of USC alumni status, may sign up to be a mentor in the APASG Mentor Program. The only qualification for mentors is a sincere interest in helping out students.
Mentees in the program need to have USC undergraduate student status. Students who sign up for the program should be willing to commit to creating and maintaining a relationship with their mentor. The level of maturity and involvement is key.
1996-97 Cycle
Close to 50 mentors were matched with current USC undergraduate students.1997-98 Cycle
67 mentor pairs were matched.1998-99 Cycle
59 mentor pairs were matched1999-00 Cycle
63 mentor pairs were matched2000-01 Cycle
51 mentor pairs were matchedProspective mentors may download an application or e-mail or call APASS at (213) 740-4999. Interested students may obtain an application from APASS in Student Union 410 and submit to Connie Sintuvat. Mentee applications are also available online. Each mentee will be required to attend a scheduled orientation session. Dates/times/locations are listed on the application. Applications are due September 12, 2001.
LEADERSHIP
