H.A.W.K.S. Peer Mentor

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This semester, the College of Business and Economics Undergraduate Student Board of Advisors is in the process of implementing a new Helping Advise Willing & Keen Students (H.A.W.K.S) Peer Advising program. The idea for this program was encouraged by Student Senate, Lehigh University’s student governing body, who implemented a pilot mentoring program at university level last year.

The H.A.W.K.S. student-to-student mentor program pairs interested students with upperclass mentors who have the same major or intended field of study as their mentee. The mentors will serve as aides to the underclassmen students in their selection of their courses, major, and future career path. With spring class registration quickly approaching, the leaders of Student Senate are working closely with program director and first-year student advisor, Twana Walker, in order to efficiently and effectively transition this initiative into the CBE
to better serve both the students and their mentors.

Amalia Hatalis, a senior double major in Marketing and Economics, shares her positive feedback about the program, “I think implementing a program such as the Peer Mentor Program in the CBE will be a great way to establish communication between the underclassmen with the upperclassmen. Even more I think this is a great program to provide guidance to freshmen and sophomores to make their experience at the CBE even better. This can done either by simply going on a lunch with the mentor a few times a month, or by emailing the questions that they otherwise wouldn’t ask anyone.”

Ms. Walker also mentions how the program is meant to place an emphasis on students’ interests and needs.  “We want to see from the students what they want out of this program. Our goal is to provide a way for them [the students] to effectively transition and get help in their coursework and classes,” says Ms. Walker.

Amalia also encourages this student-focused approach. She says, “When I was a freshman, I had so many questions I wanted to ask someone but didn't know whether they were too small or silly to ask an advisor, such as how to register [for classes] or which class I should take first. If I had a mentor at the time to help me out with questions about the business school, I know I would have taken full advantage of it.”

At present, the CBE Student Board is seeking both interested mentors and students to be part of the program. “Ideally, we want seniors, juniors and rising sophomores to serve as mentors.  We want to start the program next fall, but the application process and training of the mentors needs to start this semester” says Ms. Walker.  Ms. Walker also encourages business students of various disciplines to apply to the program because it can serve as a great resume booster.