Nine OICF institutions to attend Campus Diversity Symposium on June 14
The OICF will be holding the inaugural Campus Diversity/Retention Symposium on Thursday, June 14 from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm at Lewis & Clark College. This session is a workshop aimed at campuses that received grant funding through ECMC Foundation for peer mentoring. The workshop will create a place for open dialogue between member colleges to share best practices and establish benchmarks as we move forward and address this issue collaboratively.
In the fall of 2006, ECMC Foundation approved a grant for over $76,000 and the Foundation Independent Higher Education (FIHE) approved a matching grant of $41,000 to benefit underrepresented populations on nine OICF campuses by improving peer mentoring programs. The OICF Peer Mentoring program focuses on underrepresented student retention and leadership development.
Peer mentors serve as experienced advisors, confidantes, and friends. Mentors are trained to aid incoming students with a smooth transition to the college environment, as well as address critical issues of how the campus community ensures that these young people will continue to stay enrolled and earn degrees. Research suggests that peer mentoring can be an especially effective method to increase student retention.
The goal of the OICF Peer Mentoring program is to support the member colleges through the provision of resources to advance peer mentoring programs that will improve retention of students from underrepresented populations. Less tangible, but equally important goals include:
- Expanded relationships between students, faculty, staff and administrators
- Increased student awareness of personal, educational and career goals
- Development of an active network among the ten OICF colleges about diversity issues
For more information about our Campus Diversity initative, please visit that portion of our website by clicking here.
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