The Computer Science Department is shining a light on the impact that alumni support can have on our students. An initial pilot program grew into a successful Computer Science Peer Mentoring Program (CSPM). At this time, the CS Department is seeking funding from interested donors.
After a generous donation from a Computer Science alumnus, a pilot program integrated peer mentoring in some of our introductory and lab-based courses during academic year 2022-23. It was successful and the faculty elected to continue the program. The CSPM Program provides students with academic support in course content, assists in improving study skills, and helps students become more connected to the community. The Computer Science Department hires CS students who are experienced and recommended by faculty to serve as course-based support members.
Feedback from participants indicates that the students benefit from discussing technical material with an experienced peer, and that they are comfortable asking the peer mentor questions. Many students state that the additional resource is beneficial to their understanding and course outcome. Faculty find it helpful to have one of these peer mentors in the classroom or lab to advance the course goals.
During the three-year span, 2022-2025, additional faculty participated in and new courses were added to the CSPM Program; faculty embraced using new approaches to help students succeed. More than 1400 students were impacted over three years. The CSPM Program is successful in a variety of classrooms and over a span of course topics.
Peer mentor feedback from our students includes:
“I think being a peer mentor was helpful to the students because I was recently in their position, so reaching out was a bit easier to do knowing that I am also a student.”
“I feel as though peer mentoring has been helpful to the students because they can ask me any questions which they may have felt embarrassed to ask. I also feel that I helped make several students feel less anxious about being confused with different topics in class. I made sure to let them know it was completely normal to be confused, and that I used to be just as confused as them.”
“As a mentor, I learned a lot about the topics I was teaching. It was life-changing to see students learn from me, and the feedback that I changed their outlook on computer science was amazing. I realized that teaching at the college level is something I want to do because of this program. This experience is one of the main reasons why I decided to pursue a PhD in CS.”
“As a mentee, I found having a mentor to be incredibly valuable. There are things you can learn from someone who has taken the class as a student that you just can’t get from the professor. The mentor wasn’t just a crutch but an additional person to approach, someone who was related to the class but separate from the professor. This support was crucial in helping me navigate complex concepts and improve my understanding of the course material.”
Unmet Need
Funding will run out at the end of the current 2024-2025 academic year, and we won’t be able to sustain this successful program.
If you are interested in supporting the CSPM Program, please reach out to Dr. Andrea Salgian (salgian@tcnj.edu), Computer Science Department Chair.
Posted March 2025