Graduate Assistant-Peer Mentor

GENERAL SUMMARY:

The Office of Academic Support and Instructional Strategy (OASIS) at Walden University seeks currently enrolled Walden masters or doctoral level students for the 10-hour per week position of Graduate Assistant-Peer Mentor. The Peer Mentor role is designed to provide Walden students direct peer support through one-on-one and small group facilitations and interactions in student success sessions, new student orientation, live events, virtual appointments, course visits, and email outreach. The Peer Mentor will provide content delivery applicable to student success, guidance from a student perspective, tips for success, strategies for handling challenges, coaching to promote autonomy, and motivational advice. This is an excellent opportunity to develop mentorship skills while supporting Walden peers. The Peer Mentor reports to the Manager of Graduate Assistant Strategy and Support in OASIS.

As part of your application for this position, please submit a cover letter addressing why you want to be a peer mentor and how your education and experience has prepared you for the position. Applications without cover letters will not be considered.

About Walden University

Walden University, an Adtalem Global Education institution, supports a diverse community of adult learners from across the U.S. and other countries, who seek to achieve their academic goals and make positive, lasting social change in their professions and communities. Walden offers more than 100 online degree and certificate programs, for students pursuing a bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral or certificate. Walden University has graduated more than 174,000 students and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Visit WaldenU.edu for more information, and follow on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

• REMOTE – If you live over 50 miles from Adtalem offices in Chicago, IL, Addison, IL, Columbia, MD, Minneapolis, MN, and Miramar, FL, this role is remote. However, occasional office visits may be required based on business needs, with advance communication for such requests.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
In this role, the Peer Mentor will:

• Provide peer perspective and supportive guidance to students in multiple settings: new student orientation and welcome classrooms, email interactions, live event presentations, one-on-one mentoring appointments, and virtual drop-in sessions.
• Engage in specific program-level peer support activities, university initiatives, and specific OASIS events and resource development.
• Meet with students via Zoom for peer mentor office hour appointments, present tips and strategies for student success during live events, and contribute peer-focused content to various modalities.  
• Provide peers guidance on Walden academic resources, initiatives, support services, and tips to be successful during the academic journey.
• Analyze student questions and determine the appropriate support resources or department referrals as needed, such as Student Success Advising, Technical Support, Financial Aid, and more.
• Create instructional resources and video tutorials in collaboration with staff for the OASIS student at the center initiatives.
• Be flexible to mentor throughout the week, including evenings and weekends to best serve the needs of a global student body.
• Attend Peer Mentor team meetings led by the Instructional Services Support Specialist.
• Commit approximately 40 hours per month (10 hours per week) to this role.

TECHNICAL, MANAGERIAL, and PEOPLE SKILLS REQUIRED:

• Strong written and verbal communication.
• Prior experience teaching, coaching, and/or mentoring students preferred.
• Demonstrate professionalism skills in displaying responsiveness to ongoing team and individual communications.
• Interpersonal skills to make positive connections with peers from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.
• Prior experience presenting and facilitating live events preferred.
• Excellent problem-solving and organizational skills.
• Must have superb attention to detail and proofreading skills.
• Proficiency in online searching, including navigating web searches, library databases, and knowledge bases/help files.
• General knowledge of the Walden Library collections and search tools.
• Demonstrate working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (especially Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and Outlook).
• Ability to compile and report mentoring interaction and activity data weekly via program weekly report form.
• Ability to adapt to changes in the program cycle and program initiatives during the academic year.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

• Must be a current, active Walden masters or doctoral student with at least three quarters or two semesters of enrollment, currently in the coursework stage of the program (not capstone, practicum, or dissertation stage).
• Must be in good academic standing with the university, with 3.5 GPA and no holds on student account.
• Must demonstrate that she/he can perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations, using some other combination of skills and abilities. 

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Equal Opportunity – Minority / Female / Disability / V / Gender Identity / Sexual Orientation