Student Connect - Students Helping Students

Information for Mentors

What is the Student Connect Mentoring Programme?

The Student Connect Mentoring Programme provides a friendly introduction to NUI Galway for first year students. Existing students are tasked with ensuring the fluent integration of incoming First Years into university life. This voluntary programme will assist First Years with any transitional needs and mentors will be a go-to person for any problems they may have or assistance they may require. The Student Connect Mentoring Programme is an invaluable component of student services and its success relies on the contribution of Connect volunteers.

What is the role of a mentor?

• Developing close and supportive relationships and maintaining contact throughout the year
• Listening to the needs of students and assisting them to find an appropriate social outlet
• Identifying students at risk and referring them to the appropriate support services
• Advising students of academic support services
• Informing mentees of upcoming academic and social events and of the relevant weekly blogs

Who is the Connect Mentoring Programme open to?

It is open to all existing students who are willing to dedicate their time and effort for the benefit of upcoming First Years.

If you are interested please fill out the application form here.

What are the benefits of becoming a mentor?

• All volunteers receive an ALIVE Certificate at the end of the Programme
• Develop communication and leadership skills
• Enhanced employability skills
• The opportunity to meet new people and make friends
• Personal satisfaction and the chance to share your knowledge and experience to new arrivals

While the primary aim of each strand of the programme is the same, there are some variations to the programme for Students with a Disability and Health Connect which are set out below:

Students with a Disability

• talk about disclosing a disability from your own point of view
• give some insight into the supports available to students with disabilities
• attend a Disability Forum in Semesters One and Two to raise disability issues on behalf of students.

Health Connect
The Health Connect initiative is a health promotion outreach programme for students. For more information contact cindy.dringnuigalway.ie.

What Mentors had to say about the Programme

“The Connect Programme gave me the opportunity to enhance my leadership and communication skills which proved paramount in my career”

 “As a mentor the Connect Programme opened me to a new diverse group of friends and the help and support we gave each other reflected positively on the First Years ”

"Having the Mentoring Programme and corresponding ALIVE certificate on my CV greatly improved my employability potential"

"The Mentoring Programme was an opportunity for me to volunteer and allowed me to give back to the university which gave me so much"

If I need help/advice as a mentor where do I get it?

You can contact your allocated Mentor Leader in the first instance who may need to refer you to Una McDermott, Co-ordinator of the Student Connect Programme.