Starting college is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming. Mentorship helps students navigate this transition by offering guidance, support, and advice on everything from academics to campus life. It helps students find their community, take advantage of opportunities, and build connections with other students, faculty, and staff who can support them throughout their college experience.

The University Mentorship Program connects first-year undergraduate students with upper-level student peer mentors who remember what it’s like to be new on campus and are ready to help them get settled. Peer mentors come from a variety of majors, backgrounds, interests, and identities.

How Mentorship Works

  • Once enrolled, incoming first-year students receive an email invitation to apply to the University Mentorship Program. If selected, students are matched with one peer mentor (a current U-M student).
  • This is a voluntary, selective program for first-year students entering the University of Michigan. That means students are not auto​matically part of the program upon admittance to the university, but instead must submit an application and be evaluated for acceptance.
  • Applicants receive an email regarding their program acceptance in early August. If selected, students are matched with one peer mentor (a current U-M student). Once matches are made, peer mentors will contact mentees prior to the first day of classes to schedule their first meeting and remind them of upcoming events.
  • University Mentorship is a one-term program that occurs throughout the fall semester (late August to December).
  • Mentorship groups are made up of 20 to 25 mentees (first-year students) who share a peer mentor — you'll get to know other students with similar and different interests.
  • Mentees meet with their peer mentor monthly and attend group events together throughout the fall semester, providing regular opportunities for connection, guidance, and shared experiences.
  • Mentees can expect to incorporate mentorship into their normal student life —​ it's a program designed to make the transition into the University of Michigan easier by offering opportunities for resource sharing, community, and skill-building.
  • All accepted mentees are invited to meet their mentors and the other first-year students in their mentorship group at our biggest annual activity – Mentorship Kickoff, which takes place at the beginning of the semester. This event is a requirement for all program participants.

For questions, please email [email protected].