Discovering Recruitment Strategies to Expand Peer Mentorship

Research demonstrated peer-to-peer mentoring provides advanced or experienced undergraduate students the opportunity to play a significant role in impacting an individual's leadership values, especially values of citizenship, commitment and collaboration (Hirsh et al., 2021). The action research study explored the expansion of peer mentor recruitment across a multi campus institution, UMCI, a 2-year community college, located in New England. At the time of this research study, peer mentor recruitment occurred at the satellite campus of UMCI. The study used a participatory action research approach by engaging campus liaisons from institutions participating in a third-party mentoring program and peer mentors enrolled at UMCI, to expand peer mentor recruitment to its main campus in support of first generation Hispanic student persistence toward completion. Campus liaisons participated in individual, semi structured interviews using a virtual platform. Peer mentors participated in an in-person focus group. An intervention was planned by developing an in-person recruitment event at the main campus to attract potential peer mentors to the program. A questionnaire was administered to peer mentors participating in the intervention to determine what strategies were deemed effective in expanding peer mentor recruitment. Key findings from the study determined administrative support at the main campus, year-round recruitment of peer mentors, and collaboration and inclusion with other student-centered programs support an expanded recruitment strategy. The study concluded with suggested recommendations to support sustainable approaches to peer mentor recruitment efforts. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]