Peer Mentoring Program

This 2022-23 academic year, we are piloting a peer-mentoring program to connect first-year and transfer students to upper-level students in the Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering. This year’s pilot focuses on civil and environmental engineering students. We hope to expand the program college-wide in Fall 2023.

Important Note:

We are no longer accepting Peer Mentoring applications for the 2022-23 academic year,. We have already matched nearly all first-year and transfer students with mentors.

Why is there a peer mentoring program?

Scott Undergraduate Research Experience student Hayden Filsinger works with graduate assistant Chris Hurst in Mechanical Engineering Associate Professor Xinfeng Gao's lab, CSU Engineering Building, on April 25, 2022. Credit: Russell Dickerson, Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering

Peer mentoring in higher education has been shown to:

  • increase retention,
  • better acclimatize incoming students to the university world,
  • improve study skills,
  • plus increase the sense of belonging and campus activity involvement.

In our college, we believe in the value of personal connection, and this mentoring program directly supports Imperative One of the college’s Strategic Plan: “Educate a motivated and diverse student body who will advance sustainability and quality of living.”

Who is involved in the mentor program?

The stars of the program are the over 100 upper-level student mentors paired with first-year and transfer students.

Mentors are volunteers and can list the activity on their resumes. Plus, mentors can compete for one of two $1,000 Peer Mentoring Scholarships.

Program coordinators Dan Baker and Shannon Miller, both in Civil & Environmental Engineering, are passionate about student success and connection. Baker is a Teaching Associate Professor, and Miller is a student advisor.

Daniel Baker, Research Scientist, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University, July 30, 2013
Dan Baker, Teaching Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Shannon Miller, Undergraduate Program Coordinator, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Walter Scott Jr. College of Engineering, Colorado State University, November 4, 2019
Shannon Miller, Undergraduate Program Coordinator, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

What is expected of mentors and mentees?

Casual group photo of peer mentors

Students participating in the Peer Mentor Program will check in at least twice per month and meet up at least once per semester at a Peer Mentoring event or another gathering.

Any Questions?

Email PeerMentor@colostate.edu