A Peer Mentoring Model That Changes the World for Marginalized Students

• In Event: Saturday Roundtable Session 3:05 pm
  In Roundtable Session: Strategies to Enhance Underrepresented Groups (Table 19)

Abstract

Low graduation persistence and retention rates continue to plague our marginalized students. A peer mentoring program utilizing a Cultural Proficiency Framework has shown marginalized student persistence and retention rates exceeding their peers (Welborn, et al., 2022). This case study evaluated student persistence and retention over a two-year period and determined a higher average first-year (freshman) GPA of 3.43 compared to their peers’ average GPA of 2.76 as well high rates of retention and persistence. The research presented highlights the importance of peer mentoring programs constructed to be culturally proficient can provide valuable support to students from diverse backgrounds and help them succeed in their educational pursuits (Welborn, et al., 2022).

Authors

• Theresa A. Meyerott, California State University - Los Angeles

• Marlene Yazmin Gracia, San Diego Mesa College