Mentoring

Core Peer Mentoring Program

Students who are interested in foundations design and design pedagogy are invited to apply to the Core Peer Mentor Program. This program allows advanced students to work alongside professors with students in first-year design studios, as well as participate in a seminar about design teaching.

Students with junior, senior or graduate standing may apply. Graduate students are strongly encouraged to apply. In some rare cases, sophomore students are considered.

Peer mentors are required to spend at least 2 hours per week in their assigned studio section and participate in 1–2 additional weekend workshops. Being available to first-year students outside regularly scheduled studio time is preferable, but not a requirement.

Students who are accepted into the program are automatically enrolled in the Design Leadership Seminar, DSN S 302. This seminar will reflect the learning objectives and course content for each studio. Make sure to review the syllabi for both the studio in which you want to be a mentor (DSN S 102 or DSN S 131) and its related seminar before submitting your application to the program.

• DSN S 302 Syllabus for 102 Peer Mentors
• DSN S 302 Syllabus for 131 Peer Mentors

Students may apply to be a peer mentor in either DSN S 102 or DSN S 131, but not both. Duplicate applications will not be accepted.

Application Forms

• Peer Mentor Application for DSN S 102: Design Studio I
• Peer Mentor Application for DSN S 131: Drawing I

Application deadlines: April 30 to be a mentor in fall semester, November 20 to be a mentor in spring semester

Notification deadlines: June 15 for fall, December 15 for spring

For DSN S 102, email Nathan Edwards, nedwards@iastate.edu with any questions.

For DSN S 131, contact Chuck Richards, chuckric@iastate.edu

Core Learning Community Peer Mentors

Design Exchange peer mentors provide information and advice as well as plan, promote and facilitate programs in areas of personal and academic development for first-year students in this year-long, residential learning community.

They are also responsible for linking residents to appropriate academic support resources and conducting monthly interviews with design students. The peer mentor and the CA are key staff members who work together to develop a community conducive to student success by encouraging positive behaviors and addressing behaviors that are detrimental to the individual and/or community.

Design Collaborative peer mentors provide information and advice as well as plan, promote and facilitate programs in areas of personal and academic development for first-year students in this one-semester, nonresidential learning community.

Job Descriptions

Design Exchange Peer Mentor-Nonresidential job description (PDF)
Design Collaborative Peer Mentor job description (PDF)

2023 Application

Peer Mentor Application (both Design Exchange and Design Collaborative) (PDF)
Peer Mentor Application (both Design Exchange and Design Collaborative) (DOCX)

Deadline

Applications (either the completed PDF file or Word doc) must be returned via email to Malinda Cooper, learning community coordinator, by 5 p.m. CST Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2023. Contact Malinda Cooper with any questions.