At Indiana University, there is a multitude of academic support resources available to students. The Academic Support Center offers tutoring for those in need of math and science help, and Writing Tutorial Services help students write the best essays and papers they can. But there is one service unlike other academic support services offered at IU, the FASE Mentoring Program.
The FASE Mentoring Program—a program under the Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Multicultural Affairs—is an academic and social support system that provides peer-to-peer mentoring for IU freshman, transfer students, and students on academic probation.
“The mentors are not academic advisors,” Patrick Smith, executive director of Mentoring Services and Leadership Development, said. “But this program can supplement the experience for those who might not be comfortable going to a faculty member, professional advisor, or other authority figures with certain questions.”
There are 38 student mentors within the program with roughly 300 mentees (protégés). Five of these mentors are senior peer consultants (SPCs) who provide supplemental mentoring services for the 21st Century Scholars Program by facilitating workshops on study skills and learning strategies. Two are lead peer mentors ( LPMs) who supply additional training and support and show high levels of leadership and administrative ability. The remaining 31 mentors provide one-on-one tutoring and support services to their assigned proteges. Depending on how long a mentor has been with the program, they can have anywhere between five and seven protégés at one time. Many of the peer mentors have been protégés themselves.
“They are a very diverse group,” Smith said. “And they’re all wonderful to work with and both highly skilled and well trained at being a mentor.”
The goal of a mentor is to provide support and help their protégés engage with vital campus resources, help them reach their academic goals, navigate through the campus community, and sort through any other problems they might face. “They’re not just academic support providers,” Smith said. “Protégés can talk with their mentors and run ideas by them regarding their personal or professional lives.”
The FASE Mentoring Program is available to all IUB students, whether on campus or in a virtual setting. Currently, mentors offer office hours virtually but will meet their protégés in person utilizing safe social distance measures. To apply for a mentor, please click here.
“No one achieves any level of success without the guidance of someone else,” Smith said. “And mentoring is beneficial for anyone interested in navigating the university community or apprehensive about their college experience. It’s always good to have someone close to you, who can help and support you through it all.”