The mission of the LEED/STAR Peer Mentoring Program is to support the transition to college life for incoming LEED/STAR Scholar Engineers. We want to help you succeed in classes, make friends, and establish a great foundation for the rest of your college career. Through this program, we hope that you will find a sense of belonging and community within the LEED/STAR Scholars Program and the College of Engineering.
The LEED/STAR Peer Mentoring program pairs new LEED/STAR Scholars with a returning STAR/LEED Scholar serving as a LEED/STAR peer mentor. A LEED/STAR peer mentor is a UW-Madison College of Engineering student, part of the LEED/STAR Scholars Program, who has completed at least one year on campus. LEED/STAR peer mentors are available to first-year LEED/STAR scholars to support their success in all aspects of student life at UW-Madison. You and your mentor will meet-up at least once per month, over coffee, lunch, a study session or attending LEED/STAR, college and campus events together. Your mentor will be there to answer questions, point out resources, offer study tips, serve as a sounding board and talk about your overall UW-Madison experience. Participating in LEED/STAR Peer Mentoring is your chance to make the most of UW-Madison from day one!
What are the benefits?
Both mentors and mentees benefit from this program. Mentees receive encouragement and support, gain confidence navigating their first-year on campus, and learn about important resources available to College of Engineering students. Mentees are challenged and supported in achieving their academic, social and professional goals!
Becoming a peer mentor allows students to cultivate their interpersonal and communication skills. They will develop new relationships with other engineering students, likely feel an even greater commitment to engineering and the CoE community, and enjoy the experience of helping others. They will also continue to foster their leadership skills by guiding new students through their first semester.
Expectations of Mentees
- Meet with your mentor in-person at least once a month during the fall semester
- Attend an event with your mentee organized by your department, an organization/club you belong to, or a LEED/STAR event
- Respond to your mentor via phone/email within 24-hours, except on weekends
- Talk about your experience as an engineering student at UW-Madison
- Help your mentor by sharing how they can be most helpful to you!
- Ask for help if you need support or feel you don’t understand something
- Ask about campus locations you are particularly interested in seeing or finding, organizations you would like to explore, resources for success they would suggest, and all other questions related to your student experience!
- Be open to new experiences, advice and suggestions
- Share success and challenges with your mentors
Are you interested in being a MENTEE? Complete this form!
We are accepting mentee applications for the Fall 2025 semester now through Thursday, September 4th at 11:59pm! We will match you with one of our LEED/STAR mentors, utilizing the information submitted through mentor/mentee applications and they will contact you via your wiscmail in September.
Expectations of Mentors
The mentor’s role is to listen, refer, advise, help your mentee gain perspective, and to serve as a role model.
- You must have at least one year of undergraduate experience
- You must be available to mentor at least one student for the Fall semester
- Meet with your mentee at least once a month in person during the Fall semester.
- Attend a kick-off meeting with all other LEED/STAR mentors in September to set expectations for the experience
- Attend an event with your mentee organized by your department, an organization/club you belong to, or a LEED/STAR event
- Respond to your mentee via phone/email within 24-hours, except on weekends
- Share your experience in your major, courses, etc (e.g., what to expect in the semesters/years ahead)
- Have a genuine desire to work with your mentee and help them succeed
- Support your mentee with developing community connections (introduce them to different ways to connect with others on campus through cultural, educational, social, and spiritual opportunities)
- Check-in on your mentee, demonstrate a positive attitude and encourage your mentee in times of stress
- Handle sensitive or difficult situations with care and empathy
- Actively promote and support high community standards in classes, residence halls and campus as a whole
- Direct your mentee to Carly, Sarah, or their academic advisor for answers to questions you can’t answer
Are you interested in being a MENTOR? Complete this form!
We are accepting mentee applications for the Fall 2025 semester now through Sunday, August 24th at 11:59pm! We will match you with one of the new LEED/STAR students in September utilizing the information submitted through mentor/mentee applications. All LEED/STAR Peer Mentors are expected to attend a kick-off meeting in August, and following the meeting contact your mentee via wiscmail by Friday, September 12th.