Progress and Collaborations

Overview

The K-State Peer Leadership Collaborative is designed to highlight the work of peer leadership on our campus and help students connect to peer leadership opportunities.

The strategy team is focused on designing and implementing a cohesive peer leadership model for students. Their charge from the Division of Academic Success and Student Affairs (DASSA) is to establish a peer leadership collaborative that:

• Connects peer mentoring efforts across the institution and campuses;
• Aligns training and assessment with best practices;
• Provides support for faculty and staff coordinating programs and elevates student engagement and involvement;
• and connects all K-State students with a peer leadership opportunity that supports retention and persistence to graduation.

2024 Fall Semester Collaborations

 

Cats' Connect Facilitators

DASSA Peer Mentors facilitated Cats’ Connect sessions during the first five weeks of the Fall 2024 semester. These sessions focused on fostering meaningful connections and promoting student well-being, reinforcing the collaboration between Lafene Health Center and DASSA.

 

 

 

 

Mentor Training

The DASSA Peer Mentors underwent training rooted in furthering K-State's mission of providing educational access and service to all. This collaboration emphasizes the importance of a welcoming environment for all in peer mentoring work.

 

 

 

 

Dining Services Focus Groups

The Peer Mentoring Collaborative partnered with Housing and Dining Services to conduct focus groups on Food Experience Enhancement in February 2024. These sessions aimed to gather student feedback to improve dining services and create a more engaging campus dining experience.

Tour and Event Team Leader

Tour and Event Team Leader Training

In August 2024, Peer Leaders received training on Building Relationships, Small Talk, and Customer Service. This training equips them with essential skills to enhance campus tours, student interactions, and event experiences.

New Student Orientation Leaders

The Peer Mentoring Collaborative Strategy team delivered a specialized training on Facilitation Skills, Building Relationships, Small Talk, and Customer Service for NSOL Peer Leaders in May 2024, helping them effectively support new students during orientation.

Welcome Ambassadors

All DASSA Peer Mentors served as Welcome Ambassadors during the Fall Kick off events in 2024. The Peer Mentoring Collaborative Strategy team presented training for these Peer Leaders on Facilitation Skills, Building Relationships, Small Talk, and Customer Service. Facilitation guides for all Peer Leader facilitated activities during the Kick-off events were also provided, ensuring a welcoming and engaging environment for incoming students.

Event Ambassadors & Campus Ambassadors

In September 2024, Peer Leaders participated in training on Building Relationships, Small Talk, and Customer Service to enhance their roles as Event and Campus Ambassadors, fostering a positive campus atmosphere for all students and visitors.

 

 

LEAD 312: Peer Leader Practicum

DASSA collaborated with the Staley School of Leadership Studies to create the LEAD 312: Peer Leader Practicum, a 3-credit hour course modeled after the LEAD 212 Class Leader Practicum. This course equips Peer Leaders with critical thinking, leadership, and communication skills necessary for supporting their peers.

Strategy and advisory teams

The K-State Peer Mentoring Collaborative is designed to highlight the work of peer mentors on our campus and help students connect to peer mentoring opportunities. As a part of the Student Success initiative, two groups comprised of people dedicated to peer mentoring at K-State have come together to streamline peer-to-peer program efforts.