The Office of Transfer and Transition Services is pleased to introduce the Peer Mentor team. The Peer Mentors' role is to connect new transfer students to the UCF campus community: to assist students as they prepare to transfer, to work with transfers during their transition into UCF, and to help transitioning students to make progress toward graduation. They transferred to UCF from a diverse background (Florida community colleges and private and out-of-state schools); several are international students and they represent a broad array of academic majors.

One of their primary responsibilities is to connect with individual students at Orientation and to assist with advising and registration at Orientation, too. "We were hired because we can relate to the transfer experience in a way that some other advisors can not: we actually experienced it," according to Peer Mentor Jennifer.

In the Transfer and Transition Services office, they advise student walk-ins and by appointment, phone, e-mail, and Instant Message. They also design and implement the Transfer Student Success Workshops, participate in Grad Track at Valencia Community College, and introduce prospective students to UCF at Open House events.

Interested in becoming a Peer Mentor? Fill out this application and mail it, along with an up-to-date resume, and work references to:

Transfer and Transition Services
Howard Phillips Hall 221
P.O. Box 160123
Orlando, FL 32816-0123

All applications are due by September 1, 2008.

Major: Advertising and Public Relations Transferred from: Valencia Community College Hometown: Palm Beach, FL Year in School: Senior Activities: Transfer Knights, Golden Key Honors Society, Tau Sigma Honors Society

Major: Event Management Minor: Art History Transferred from: Florida Atlantic University Hometown: Coral Springs, FL Year in School: Junior Activities: Transfer Knights, Eta Sigma Delta Hospitality Honors Society

A widely diverse group, these students share a common attitude of caring and concern for other students; many came highly recommended by their mentors at their previous colleges. Dr. Mark Allen Poisel, Associate Vice President for Academic Development and Retention, strongly supports this initiative. "We have created a new program to meet the needs of students. Peer Mentors offer new transfer students an opportunity to connect to the UCF campus community. Retention data indicate that one of the strongest factors in student success is students connecting with other students. The Peer Mentors will provide that connection for new transfer students at UCF."

Kim, one last year's Peer Mentors, said "I like being a Peer Mentor because it feels good to be a guiding voice that transfer students know they can rely on."

Peer Mentors are available for transfer and transition advising. Make an appointment to see one, or call 407-823-5959 on the Transfer Student Hotline; or e-mail them at tsmentor@mail.ucf.edu.