UBC MEDIA STUDIES PEER & ACADEMIC MENTOR
BMS Remote Volunteer Opportunity
MISSION
The BMS Peer and Academic Mentor Program provides mentoring for first-year BMS students to support and enhance their engagement in and achievement towards academic success and developing life-long learning habits. The program aims to shape first-year BMS students’ cohort learning approaches, and assist in developing rewarding Media Studies experiences. The program also aims to utilize learning advancements for mentors, in reflecting on experience towards greater comprehension and cognition of valuable learning and knowledge they hold.
VOLUNTEER FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES
The BMS Peer Mentor role will focus on facilitating opportunities for first-year BMS students to engage with each other and their learning as they navigate the university environment and academic expectations as active and self-directed learners. The program seeks to strengthen the cohort approach to learning by assigning incoming students to upper-level students, and hosting monthly online group study sessions structured around Media Studies curriculum, and may also consult closely with course syllabi and BMS faculty.
Monthly sessions are planned and facilitated by the Peer Mentors. Please note that these are not meant to be tutorials. The role of the Peer Mentors in these sessions will be to host the session and conduct the Q&A. This responsibility will be shared amongst the Peer Mentors to host one session for the year.
As a Peer Mentor you will:
- Provide peer academic mentoring to current first-year BMS students:
- Host one of six monthlyone-hour online group session* that focuses on first-year BMS course assignments, Media Studies questions, learning approaches, facilities and resources.
- Host a monthly “Drop-In Office Hour” session where mentors can offer one-on-one support to incoming students
- Help students to set an intentional and self-directed approach to student learning – at the class, program, or experience level.
- Provide mentorship & guidance as upper-level students on the resources and opportunities for students to engage in experiential learning and academic growth.
- Consult first-year faculty to ensure content connects to syllabi and assignments, and respond to identified needs and opportunities as identified by BMS faculty.
- Market the group study sessions to students through email, Facebook groups, faculty, and BMS program office (such as through social media, Canvas, Memo)
- Participate in the development, implementation and evaluation of the program, including monthly meetings.
- Attend and participate in other monthly Peer Mentor sessions from September to April.
* Suggested Session Topic Ideas
Open-ended sessions:
- Welcome to BMS @ UBC – V, tips & tricks
- Extra Curriculars: MSSA, Beacon, Co-op, etc…
- How to deal with ambiguity in assignments
- Identifying you interests and how to integrate it into your studio work
- How to let theory inform practice and back again
- Ways to get past a creative block
- How to learn from critiques
- Looking to next year courses and/or degree planning
- Health and Wellness
- BMS Alumni Panel
Course-specific sessions:
- How to Succeed in Computer Science
- Academic Writing Tips – Can collaborate with UBC Library
- Analyzing Film
- Studying Media Theory
- How to Produce a Podcast
POSITION TERM AND COMMITMENT (MOSTLY REMOTE)
Time commitment will be approximately 10 hours a month during the Sept – April academic year and includes; team meetings, marketing, planning, facilitating, and evaluating outcomes.
Peer Mentors will participate in different ways:
- Online Peer Mentoring academic study sessions with students
- Ongoing liaison with BMS faculty to ensure that study session content aligns with faculty’s syllabi and course needs
- Peer Mentor team meetings/ professional development workshops
- Invited remote visits to BMS classrooms
Term 1: September 1 – December 11 (not including holidays) 16 weeks, approximately 4 monthly sessions shared amongst the group
Term 2: January 4 – April 9 (not including Reading Week or holidays) 13 weeks, approximately 4 monthly sessions shared
BENEFITS
Peer Mentors will have opportunities for professional development and training opportunities. Mentors are encouraged to suggest areas in which they would like additional training and seek opportunities that broaden and develop various areas of expertise. This position offers students the arena to develop a number of skills, and opportunities for personal and professional growth including:
- Academic coaching and academic skills.
- Verbal communication and listening skills.
- Collaborative teamwork: working with the other BMS Peer Mentors, faculty and staff.
- Job-related skills such as enhanced professional communication and group facilitation.
- Intercultural and social awareness.
Upon committed completion of the BMS Mentorship program, Peer Mentors will receive a UBC Bachelor of Media Studies Certificate in Leadership to acknowledge your leadership and contribution to supporting BMS students.
SUPERVISION AND ADVISING
BMS Peer Mentors will report directly to the BMS program for monthly check-ins.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Current student in the BMS program – looking for representation in all levels of the BMS (Year 2 and upwards)
- A strong academic background (average of 75%)
- Passionate about cultivating and growing a Media Studies community
- Creative problem solvers, and excited about the possibilities and potentials of mentorship to enhance student learning.
- Strong success in learning habits and a demonstrated commitment to the learning, personal growth, and development of others.
- Excellent communication skills, demonstrated leadership and interpersonal skills.
- Demonstrated ability to take initiative and work independently.
- Familiarity with components and opportunities in the BMS program considered an asset.
APPLICATION
To apply for this volunteer position, please email arts.mediastudies@ubc.ca by August 10, 2020 with a 1-page Resume highlighting relevant experience and Cover Letter.
In your Cover Letter, please include a casual 250 word auto-ethnographic account of your undergraduate experience in the BMS program thus far, and one suggested session topic of your own, which may or may not be incorporated into the schedule.
Number of Positions: 6 (Can partner up or individually run a session, but the student must run at least one throughout the year – there will be a sign-up sheet at the beginning of term).
Time commitment: 10 hours per month
