Remember your first few weeks at Ball State? Were you both excited and anxious: Would you like to help incoming students transition to college life in the Honors College and Ball State?
Recognizing a need to help incoming students, in 1990 Honors College students lobbied to create an experience to acclimate first-year students to the Honors College and Ball State community. The result was Honors 100, which is staffed by Peer Mentors who are Honors College students in their second, third or fourth year at Ball State.
Serve as a Peer Mentor
Honors 100 meets for the first eight weeks of every fall semester and is divided into small sections, which are each led by a Peer Mentor. Each mentor tailors their own section to reflect the needs of their students. In-coming students register for Honors 100 for 0.5 credits.
In addition to meeting with their sections of Honors 100, first-time Peer Mentors also meet once weekly in Honors 300 for the first eight weeks of the fall semester. This seminar is led by the Honors Fellows and ensures a space where Peer Mentors can discuss issues concerning Honors 100, their role as leaders in the Honors College, and engage in collaborative learning. Peer Mentors register for Honors 300 for zero or one credit.
Mentors gain leadership experience and forge friendships with their Honors 100 students and other mentors that can last a lifetime.
Peer Mentor Requirements
Each year the Honors College recruits Peer Mentors to be a part of this important experience.
To be a peer mentor, you must:
- be a member of the Honors College
- have at least a 3.33 cumulative grade point average
- have completed at least 6 credits of honors coursework and be making good progress through the Honors College curriculum (on average one Honors course per semester)
Application for first-time mentors requires a short essay and interview.
Interested? Contact the Director of Student Success and Honors First Year Programs, Ashanti Figures, for more information.