Faculty Mentors: Utilizing mentorship within learning communities to aid in the success of minority students

1:45-2:35 p.m.

Location: Pollock B

Type: Interactive

Audience: Linked Courses, Coordinated Studies, Living Learning Communities

Presenters: Angela Perez and Amanda Marquez, Texas A & M University - Corpus Christi

Research shows that Latina higher education students have some of the lowest enrollment and degree attainment percentages among college graduates, but also finds that relationships with family, peers, faculty, staff, and community can increase the likelihood of their persistence and graduation rates. First-year, first-generation, Latina students can highly benefit from the support of role models that include peer and faculty mentors. Mentoring relationships, such as those commonly formed within learning communities, which focus on the quality and frequency of interactions with faculty mentors of similar backgrounds can have a positive effect on student grades, improve persistence in higher education programs, graduation rates, and future career and professional development. This presentation will highlight some of the best practices Seminar faculty may employ to better engage with students in establishing a mentor/mentee relationship. This session intends to equip other faculty with some pedagogical tools to employ at their own institutions to better support underrepresented students.