The Office of Transfer and Transition Services is pleased to introduce the Peer Mentor team. The Peer Mentors' role is to connect new transfer students to the UCF campus community: to assist students as they prepare to transfer, to work with transfers during their transition into UCF, and to help transitioning students to make progress toward graduation. They transferred to UCF from a diverse background (Florida community colleges and private and out-of-state schools); several are international students and they represent a broad array of academic majors.

One of their primary responsibilities is to connect with individual students at Orientation and to assist with advising and registration at Orientation, too. "We were hired because we can relate to the transfer experience in a way that some other advisors can not: we actually experienced it," according to Peer Mentor Jennifer.

In the Transfer and Transition Services office, they advise student walk-ins and by appointment, phone, e-mail, and Instant Message. They also design and implement the Transfer Student Success Workshops, participate in Grad Track at Valencia Community College, and introduce prospective students to UCF at Open House events.

Major: Event Management Minor: Studio Art Transferred from: Florida Atlantic University Hometown: Coral Springs, FL Year in School: Sophomore Activities: Transfer Knights, Art for Charity

Major: Mechanical Engineering Transferred from: University of Akron Hometown: Green, Ohio Year in School: Junior Activities: Transfer Knights, Society of Women Engineers, Students for the Development and Exploration of Space

Major: Counselor Education Program Transferred from: BA from Queen’s College Hometown: Douglaston, New York Year in School: Third year graduate student Activities: Member of ACA, NAMI, DBSA

Major: Psychology Transferred from: Valencia Community College Hometown: Perry, Iowa Year in School: Senior Activities: Psi Chi, Tau Sigma, Phi Theta Kappa, American Association for Women in Community Colleges, Delta Epsilon Iota

A widely diverse group, these students share a common attitude of caring and concern for other students; many came highly recommended by their mentors at their previous colleges. Dr. Mark Allen Poisel, Associate Vice President for Academic Development and Retention, strongly supports this initiative. "We have created a new program to meet the needs of students. Peer Mentors offer new transfer students an opportunity to connect to the UCF campus community. Retention data indicate that one of the strongest factors in student success is students connecting with other students. The Peer Mentors will provide that connection for new transfer students at UCF."

Kim, one this year's Peer Mentors, said "I like being a Peer Mentor because it feels good to be a guiding voice that transfer students know they can rely on."

Peer Mentors are available for transfer and transition advising. Make an appointment to see one, or call 407-823-5959 on the Transfer Student Hotline; or e-mail them at tsmentor@mail.ucf.edu.