Second-Year Learning Communities Job Postings

As part of the Student Success Programs team in the Faculty of Arts & Science, Second Year Learning Communities (SLC) Peer Mentors will work under the supervision of the Student Success Programs Officer and the Associate Director, Student Success to provide mentorship and facilitate a welcoming and supportive community for a small group of second year students.

SLCs support students through a key transition within their undergraduate experience, specifically the acceptance and integration into a program of study during their second year in A&S. The SLC experience seeks to achieve three main student outcomes: allowing students to feel a sense of belonging, deepening students’ knowledge about their academic discipline and department, and empowering students to feel in control of their learning and future directions. Each SLC is facilitated by two Peer Mentors, with the guidance of a Staff Advisor and Faculty Advisor. Collaboratively, you will create and deliver bi-weekly tailored sessions to your mentees. Utilizing a session budget, you are tasked with creating community and providing meaningful experiences aligned with the program learning outcomes.

Two peer mentor positions are available in each of the following departments:

• Cell & Systems Biology
• Chemistry
• Computer Science
• Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
• Economics
• Mathematics
• Pharmacology & Toxicology
• Physics
• Psychology
• School of the Environment
• Statistical Sciences

Each Peer Mentor will be responsible for:

• Attending each SLC session from September to March at the designated SLC time*
• Collaboratively planning and facilitating the activities for each session with your co-peer mentor.
• Serving as a resource and role model for second-year students on behalf of the University of Toronto.
• Submitting a SLC summary report that tracks session plans, attendance and budget on bi-weekly basis.
• Meeting regularly with the staff and faculty advisor to plan the content of the SLC sessions.
• Developing an understanding of the needs of second-year university students within your department.
• Fostering an inclusive environment that honours and elevates diverse voices and experiences, allowing for the psychological safety of all participating members.
• Communicating to SLC students through e-mail and Quercus, responding promptly to questions, queries, and concerns.
• Communicating accurate and timely information to students about relevant faculty and university resources.
• Creating and completing a professional development plan to support their own growth and development as a leader.
• Motivating others to reflect on and work towards academic, personal, and career goals.
• Creating an accessible environment that limits participation barriers for mentees.
• Demonstrating integrity and responsible conduct with all SLC mentee interactions.
• Coordinating and communicating SLC activities required for successful program completion (including department/faculty engagement activities and academic/career planning activities).
• Adhering to confidentiality policies and University policies.
• Reporting any issues of importance or concern to the Student Success Programs Team.
• Attending and actively participating in Peer Mentor training and team meetings in the fall and winter semesters.

* Successful applicants must be available during their scheduled 2-hour SLC sessions from September through March.  SLC session times will be determined and communicated before course enrolment begins.

Note: The university is based in Toronto and constituted according to Ontario law; therefore, it is our expectation that the provision of services to the university will be conducted in Ontario.

As part of the Student Success Programs team in the Faculty of Arts & Science, Senior Peer Mentors will work under the supervision of the Student Success Programs Officer and the Associate Director, Student Success, to support the Second-Year Learning Communities (SLCs). Senior Peer Mentors are primarily responsible for providing support and guidance to the Peer Mentors, program development, and administrative support to the SLC program.

Senior Peer Mentors will be responsible for:

• Providing support to half of the SLC groups through reviewing tracker documents and providing feedback to peer mentors about planned activities.
• Planning and leading bi-weekly team meetings.
• Assisting Student Success Programs Officers in the development and delivery of program curriculum and learning resources for SLC sessions.
• Assisting Student Success Programs Officers with administrative tasks.
• Responding to inquiries within the defined scope of the role and redirecting as appropriate.
• Maintaining regular contact with peer mentors through email and teams; responding promptly to queries and concerns.
• Assisting in the planning and facilitation of Peer Mentor training.
• Providing accurate and timely information about faculty and campus resources to Peer Mentors.
• Serving as a role model for peer mentors and students as ambassadors within the faculty.
• Meeting with Student Success Programs Officers regularly.
• Reporting any issues of importance or concern to the Student Success Programs team.
• Supporting projects to enhance the Learning Communities program.

Note: The university is based in Toronto and constituted according to Ontario law; therefore, it is our expectation that the provision of services to the university will be conducted in Ontario.

Qualifications

• A familiarity with the Arts & Science community and resources at the University of Toronto
• Ability to collaborate effectively with peer mentors, staff and faculty advisors and other campus partners
• Strong verbal and written communication, listening, and conflict resolution skills
• Experience in program delivery and/or small group facilitation
• Experience working on teams, especially in a leadership capacity
• Strong ability to reflect on, and communicate about, student experiences
• Good attention to detail
• Ability to work both independently and as a member of a team
• Strong understanding of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion practices and experience working with diverse populations
• Registered as an undergraduate student in good academic standing (minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50)
• Previous experience as a SLC Peer Mentor is an asset
• A current undergraduate student in the Faculty of Arts & Science, St. George
• Must be enrolled in at least 2.0 FCE (full course equivalent); minimum 0.5 credits in one session and 1.5 credits in the other.
  • Must continue to meet the eligibility course load for the duration of the contract.

The Senior Peer Mentor position requires up to 12 hours of scheduled work per week, between May 2025 to April 2026, including pre-scheduled SLC session, meeting and training times. This position requires work shifts to be completed in person and remotely.

Rate of pay: $24.99/hour

The Faculty of Arts & Science encourages applicants that will continue to expand and diversify the backgrounds, experiences and identities amongst members of our team, including students who have joined the faculty through an access program, Black, Indigenous or racialized students, students with a disability, students of religious/spiritual communities, 2SLGBTQ+ students and mature students. Hiring priority will be given to undergraduate Faculty of Arts & Science students.

Application Deadline: January 28, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.

Please complete the application form and attach in PDF form a current resume, with your co-curricular engagement listed, and your unofficial transcript. Be advised your academic record will be reviewed to ensure you meet the minimum CGPA requirement.