Pioneering Connections, a peer mentoring program coordinated by Student Support Services at Tusculum, has achieved certification from the College Reading and Learning Association.
College Reading and Learning Association is a professional organization of student-oriented professionals active in the fields of reading, learning assistance, developmental education, tutoring and mentoring at the college/adult level. The International Mentor Training Program Certification offers colleges and universities the resources necessary to develop and improve existing mentor training programs.
Jeremy Jones, a Tusculum graduate and former Tusculum College Student Support Services staff member, first established the Pioneering Connections mentor program. Jones said the impetus of the program came from his desire to build community across the entire student body.
“As an alumnus of Student Support Services, a mentor, resident assistant and student-athlete at Tusculum, I wanted to bring a cross-campus mentoring program to bring students together. Hence the name ‘Pioneering Connections.’”
The Pioneering Connections Peer Mentoring program is designed to provide a connection for first-year, underrepresented students transitioning to the Tusculum College community by providing support and resources to increase success and engagement at the institution. A priority of the Pioneer Connections program is to provide peer support for students who are navigating their way through a new collegiate experience.
The outcome of extra peer support, along with connection to the program, is to promote retention and develop positive life and college success skills.
“I wanted to be a mentor because I wanted to encourage others to be the people they are meant to be. I want my protégés to know that they have someone that cares how they are doing, academically and emotionally,” said current mentor Amber Loggains, who also serves as a house mentor for the SSS Living-Learning Community.
Mentor Dallas Kuykendall, who also works with the Living-Learning Community, is proud of the progress that Pioneering Connections has made. “Getting certified is important because it shows the people on campus we are serious about our program, and we are putting in the work to make the program grow.”
The certification of Tusculum’s program authorizes Pioneering Connections to certify individual mentors at Level 1 – Mentor Certification or Level 2 – Advanced Mentor Certification.
The program requires mentors receive mandatory training in subjects such as conflict resolution, mentoring boundaries, cultural awareness, academic advising and professional ethics. Mentors are obligated to meet with protégés a required number of hours each year. Mentors must meet these benchmarks to receive personal certification.
Chuck Sutton, Student Support Service’s multicultural retention specialist, manages the Pioneering Connections Peer Mentoring program. Mentors report to Sutton via weekly communication, both verbal and written. He also requires periodic one-on-one meetings with each mentor. Additionally, Sutton implements evaluation standards for both protégés and mentors. He has worked with campus stakeholders and other college personnel to provide relevant trainings for all mentors.
Pioneering Connections currently consists of 12 trained mentors who work with 30 protégés.
For more information about the Pioneering Connections Peer Mentor program, please contact Student Support Services at (423) 798-1635 or sss@tusculum.edu.