Peer Mentor

Posted by Ebrahim Randeree on

Position Description

Exciting job opportunity to gain cross-cultural experience working as a PEER MENTOR for several weeks throughout the summer in a special program for students from Asia and South America.  Be an ambassador for FSU and the US.

Six groups of students will be at FSU attending either an intensive course in intercultural communication or hospitality management for 9 days at FSU, followed by a 6- month internship at Walt Disney World®.  These programs are organized by the FSU Center for Global Engagement.

Six Peer Mentor positions have been created to support two or three groups of students per session by providing cultural and social activities when they are not in class and to help orient them to American university life.  The Peer Mentors will live in the residence hall with the students (room and board provided), eat meals with them, assist with program activities and transport the students by van when necessary within Tallahassee.  The Peer Mentor period of employment will be from June 28-August 8.  Peer Mentors are required to live in the residence halls for the entirety of employment, which are the dates listed above.

Responsibilities:

  • Participate actively in Peer Mentor Orientation and all Peer Mentor meetings.
  • Help in preparations to receive the students and be available when they arrive on campus to help settle into residence hall.  The Center for Global Engagement will arrange for placement in Ragans Hall for Peer Mentors.  It is not required that Peer Mentors currently reside on campus.
  • Actively participate in the initial orientation for students, and help plan and facilitate social and cultural activities outside of class (classes are 8:30-11:30 and 12:30-2:30 daily, Monday-Saturday) during each session.
  • Live in Ragans Hall with the students and lead and facilitate afternoon and evening activities and events with them.  The majority of your social interaction when Special Academic Programs students are on campus will be with the students.
  • Accompany students to meals on and off campus. (Meals for Peer Mentors will be covered by the Center for Global Engagement.)
  • Accompany the students to class and on field trips (charter will be used) to a resort and country club as part of their Hospitality course or a comparable field trip for the Communication course.
  • Share cultural information about student life and living in the United States.
  • Serve as a resource to students, help orient them to campus and to life in the US, and communicate serious issues immediately to the Center for Global Engagement staff.
  • Help with event set up and clean up/reset, which will entail moving furniture and sweeping floors
  • Accompanying students to Thagard or other health care location if necessary
  • Assisting students with luggage (can weigh up to 70 pounds)

Requirements:

  • Valid driver’s license & car insurance and be willing to drive a 15-passenger van for local transportation only (after receiving necessary training)
  • Cell phone
  • Interest in international affairs and meeting people from other cultures
  • Must be able to accurately provide information about typical events/activities/daily life for U.S. Americans and FSU students
  • Ability to lift and carry objects weighing up to 30 pounds in addition to assisting with (sometimes lifting) luggage weighing up to 70 pounds
  • Upper level undergraduate or graduate student.
  • Good people and conversational skills
  • Organized and responsible
  • Experience living, working or studying abroad  (preferred)

Period of Employment: June 28- August 8

This time commitment will satisfy the International or Cross-Cultural Sustained Experience requirement for the Global Pathways Certificate.

The times you may be scheduled are 7:00 – 9:30 am and 11:00 – 11:00 pm daily, and should not exceed 40 hours per week

Compensation:

Peer Mentors will earn $8/hour (with a varying work schedule, up to 40 hours/week) plus room and board for the period of employment.

Application Process:

Please turn in the completed application form to the Center for Global Engagement, Special Programs Office (on the third floor of the new Center for Global and Multicultural Engagement building) care of Jessica Driemeier, or send as an e-mail attachment with subject as your name and “Peer Mentor Application” to jdriemeier@admin.fsu.edu.  Applications are due by Wednesday, March 17.

We will contact select applicants to set up an interview after receiving a complete application.