Department of Mathematical and Computational Sciences launches new pilot peer mentorship program
The MCS pilot program is pairing first-years with experienced upper-year students to ease the transition into UTM.
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The Department of Mathematical and Computational Sciences (MCS) launched a new peer mentorship program in September to support direct-entry first-year students. The program aims to improve students’ transition into MCS and their sense of belonging.
Participation will be limited and will expand if the pilot becomes successful. The focus of the assistance will be students’ academic performance, retention within MCS programs, and sense of belonging in study programs that are highly demanding.
The key responsibilities of the mentors include a mentor-to-mentee ratio of 1:5, and a 1:1 meeting each term with each mentee. The mentees will be connecting with upper-year students who have experience navigating the same academic environment.
The mentorship program is seeking third-year computer science specialists or majors, or information security specialists with a strong academic standing, including a CGPA of 3.2 or above. Mentors are expected to be both well-versed in the subject matter and have a good academic record to be able to effectively help and inspire younger students.
Part of the LAUNCH program
The program will operate under the Centre for Student Engagement’s LAUNCH program, which seeks to help students by fostering a sense of community and supporting the development of academic skills through sessions focusing on essential university skills.
LAUNCH currently offers three broad initiatives in UTM010, UTM020, and UTM030, as seen on Acorn. The first of the three is available to business, culture, and management students, the second focuses on science, mathematics, and psychology, while the third focuses on the humanities and social sciences.
All three contain many disciplines condensed into one and, as such, may be limited in how they address specific program concerns. The program is not a course and does not count for any credits. It is an extracurricular program, allowing participants to receive co-curricular credits for completion upon completion.
A third-year mathematics student who has asked to remain anonymous provided The Medium with their perspective regarding the usefulness of a mentorship program tailored specifically to the program.
She noted the workload and the difficulty of university mathematics, compared to high school mathematics as a major challenge for direct-entry MCS students. She said a program such as the MCS mentorship initiative could have helped bridge that gap.
As the pilot program moves through the academic year, the MCS department will have the opportunity to determine whether a tailored mentorship program can address students’ specific needs.
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