Peer Mentoring and Tutoring Programs
The mentoring and tutoring programs are an opportunity for students who are beginning coursework in their major to improve their problem-solving skills, increase their grade point averages by collaborating with a small group of their peers, and receive mentoring from upper-level students in their major. Below is a description of the Peer Mentoring and Tutoring Program components.
Shadow Mentoring Program
A significant part of NKU’s effort to assist students entering their major in making a smooth transition will be a student tracking/monitoring process called Shadow Mentoring. The purpose of the program is to help students manage their academic schedule, to provide proactive mentor support and to monitor the student's academic progress. NKU employs and trains upper-level students who are proficient in their studies to serve as peer mentors. The peer mentors meet with the students every two weeks. Both the peer mentor and the student (protégé) also meet together with a faculty mentor, at least once during the semester to discuss the student's academic success and to share success strategies for the remainder of the semester. Shadow Mentoring is a part of a well-planned systematic program that enables at-risk students to make the transition to college life. Due to the lack of understanding of the college culture, many students hold unrealistic attitudes and expectations about college success.
Collaborative Learning Groups
In order to foster collaborative and peer learning NKU will organize students who are beginning coursework in their major into study groups, based on a specific major course known to be difficult to students. The groups will consist of not more than 9 freshman protégés and will have two or three peer mentors as facilitators. Peer mentors, who are upperclassmen and are proficient in the subject matter, facilitate each of the groups. The group will meet for one collaborative learning session each week at a time convenient for all members. The peer mentors provide structure to the session and ensure that problem-solving progresses at a reasonable pace.
Scholarship Support for Program
NKU offers partial scholarships to program participants, with the added stipulation that they consistently participate in the mentoring and tutoring programs. Scholarships are awarded each semester and students must meet eligibility requirements each semester.