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SAW Peer Mentors include sophomore, junior, and senior students from a diverse range of majors and minors, language backgrounds, and interests. They are selected to become SAW Peer Mentors on the basis of their interpersonal as well as oral and written communication skills. The SAW Program seeks prospective mentors who communicate effectively and listen actively, demonstrate a familiarity with writing across the curriculum, interact adaptively and thoughtfully with peers and faculty, and are committed to developing their own writing and public speaking as they grow in their capacity as mentors and leaders within the program.

Overview of the SAW Mentor Position

The SAW Mentor position is a paid on-campus position and requires a commitment of 6-10 hours per week. SAW hires, educates, and places MHC students as SAW mentors to partner with faculty in courses across the disciplines and to staff the SAW Center. Each semester, a mentor may work solely at the SAW Center or as a classroom-based Course Mentor. Most mentors take advantage of both opportunities at some point during their time with the program. Classroom-based Course Mentors work directly with a particular faculty member and students enrolled in their respective course. Over the course of the semester, the mentor has the opportunity to work with the same small group of students to initiate and build a mentoring relationship via class participation, individual meetings, group sessions, workshops, and other activities. As a result, the enrolled students receive the benefit of a close, supportive relationship and regular one-on-one attention to their work. Course Mentors receive the benefit of developing a productive mentoring relationship with faculty with whom they work through ongoing strategic planning focused on student and course needs, as well as guidance and feedback throughout the semester on their peer mentoring activities.

To ensure that the SAW Program provides a high quality of mentorship to speakers and writers across campus, we are committed to the professional development of our student staff. In addition to their weekly mentoring work, all SAW Mentors engage with the program via 2-3 required staff meetings per semester and through participation in professional development activities. A diverse professional development series of interactive enrichment workshops, panels, and lectures is crafted each semester by SAW Program leadership and mentors are required to select several activities in which they would like to participate.

SAW Program Hiring and Requirements

The SAW hiring cycle begins each fall semester and applications from prospective mentors are due in late fall/early winter. Applications are now available with an extended deadline of Monday, January 10, 2022. Each prospective mentor is required to submit a completed application, along with a resume and writing sample, and seek two faculty members to provide a reference on their behalf.

Students hired into the program will be enrolled in CUSP-212-01: Peer Mentoring, a two-credit training course held during the second half of the semester on Monday evenings, 7:15-10:05PM. This two-credit course is. In this course, you will receive training and education on theories and practices of peer mentoring and collaborative learning. The completion of this course with a B final grade or higher is required before peer mentoring work can begin in the following fall semester.

Learn more about the application process and requirements.

Timeline to Become a SAW Mentor

Application Deadline: January 10, 2022 
SAW applications and references due.

Late January: Prospective mentors receive an application update and notification if they have been selected for an interview. Select applicants are invited to participate in an interview with SAW Faculty and Directors.

Early–Mid February: Applicants receive notification if they are invited to enroll in CUSP-212-01: Peer Mentoring.

March: CUSP-212-01: Peer Mentoring course begins following the spring break recess. 

Fall 2022: Students who pass CUSP-212-01 with a B or higher begin their peer mentoring work.