Through the peer mentoring programme first years have access to existing students who are trained mentors, which helps with the transition to college
The 56 student mentors who participated in the 2017/18 P2P programme – WIT’s peer mentoring programme which helps first year students settle into college – were recognised for their contribution to the SETU community recently.
Those in attendance received their certificates present by SETU President Prof Willie Donnelly in an evening ceremony for recognition of their contribution to the programme.
College life uncovered
P2P mentors undergo a full days training in early September and play a crucial role in first year orientation and P2P activities specific to their programmes.
Student volunteer their own time throughout the semester to support new students into SETU and to disseminate important information of college life and processes.
Senior mentors
Among these mentors were five senior mentors which is a new accolade introduced this year for mentors who had acted in the role previously and who showed leadership skills, enthusiasm and a commitment to the programme. Retention Officer, Aishling O Toole spoke highly of all mentors this year and thanked them for their outstanding work.
Future expansion
56 mentors participated in the2017/18 P2P programme from the Department of Sport and Exercise Science undergraduate courses and from the BA(Hons) Criminal Justice.
The focus on P2P for semester two is recruiting new mentors for the 2018/19 academic year to help and support next year’s new students.
Student Life and Learning and academic staff from the School of Business and the Applied Health Care Programme in the Department of Nursing and Health Care, are in discussions about developing P2P for their specific programmes
About P2P
The P2P Programme is Waterford Institute of Technology’s Peer Mentoring Programme which is coordinated under Student Life and Learning in conjunction with academic staff from the specific programmes it is running in. The aim of the P2P Programme is to support the transition of new first year students into third level education by providing them with access to a trained mentor who is an older year student from their course who acts as a form of social support throughout the Academic Year.
The P2P Programme is developed and led by the students in each programme making P2P very much a student led, student centred programme.
Related Courses
- Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Exercise Sciences (Common Entry)
- Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Sport & Exercise Science
- Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Nutrition & Exercise Science
- Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Health & Exercise Science
- Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Sports Coaching & Performance
- Bachelor of Business in Recreation & Sport Management
- Bachelor of Business (Honours) in Recreation & Sport Management
- Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Criminal Justice Studies