Undergraduate student peer mentoring in a multi-faculty, multi-campus university context

摘要

This article explores research that utilised a mapping strategy to investigate the elements of peer mentoring and peer tutoring programs across a multi-campus Australian university. Peer mentoring, peer tutoring and peer learning activities at the multi-campus university are occurring in a manner that may be considered ad-hoc which does not necessarily reflect an organisational commitment to, or philosophy of peer activities in the higher education setting. There is a significant body of research that reveals that mentoring activities benefit all students, mentoring particularly increases access, progress and success of students who traditionally struggle in tertiary education (Barnett, 2008; Walker and Walsh, 2008; Allen, Elby and Lentz, 2006; Budny, Paul and Bon, 2006; Eby, Durley, Evans and Ragins, 2006; Fox and Stevenson, 2006; Ferrar, 2004; Heirdsfield, Nelson, Tills, Cheeseman, Derrington, Tracy, Jagsi, Starr and Tarbell, 2004; Hansford, Tennent and Ehrich, 2003). While it is important to distinguish peer mentoring from peer tutoring/learning in any integrated model, both activities would complement Australian curriculum and student service reforms by providing an added valuable learning resource to all students.