The Mentoring for Success Program is a peer mentoring program designed to promote program participants' success at Western Michigan University through increased acceptance rates into participants' intended majors and increased college graduation rates. The program is geared toward achieving specific academic and developmental goals that are focused on participants' overall development. The program is optimized for and most beneficial to first-year and second-year students.
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1900+ participants served to date (since the program started in March 2007).
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90.09% participants completed the 2020-21 academic year in good standing.
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85.42% participants graduated from WMU in 2020-21, within six years of enrollment.
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27 countries, including the U.S., are represented by our former and current student staff.
Our academic mentors provide undergraduate students in our target population academic support through one-on-one and small-group mentoring sessions, during which they may tutor, facilitate discussions, help students locate resources, and promote academic and life skills development. They also model effective student practices and attitudes and facilitate weekly study sessions for participants in our target population. Our mentors come from diverse backgrounds and are committed to helping students succeed academically, socially, emotionally, and professionally.
Our program strives to ensure that all program participants are given the full opportunity to discover and develop their talents, interests, and unique potential, and to provide a learning-centered and student-centered environment that presents the context for intellectual, cultural, professional, and personal growth during the college experience. Program participants will learn to become independent, confident learners and develop good study habits, learning techniques, and time management skills that will enhance their education and college experience, as well as to enable them to achieve a post-secondary degree.
The Mentoring for Success Program is funded by the State of Michigan's Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity's King-Chávez-Parks Initiative, as well as WMU's Multicultural Affairs for Students and Office of Diversity of Inclusion. The program was formerly known as the Steps Toward Exhibiting Mastery Program. References to the former name will be found in our participant and former staff testimonials.
How to Participate
As a Program Participant
All currently enrolled WMU students who meet the eligibility requirements can participate in our program and receive services. There are three ways in which students can participate:
- Meet one-on-one with an assigned academic mentor.
- Attend weekly study sessions led by academic mentors.
- Attend workshops offered by our program.
As an Academic Mentor
All currently enrolled WMU students who meet the general requirements for the position may apply. Our academic mentors provide peer mentoring, academic review, tutoring, and referral services to mentees in group or individual settings. We hire year-round and our self-paced training gives new mentors the flexibility to complete the training at any point in the semester.
Safety Procedures
Please report any suspected or alleged instances of wrongdoing or misconduct or concerns about inappropriate service provisions and practices by any program staff to the program director at (269) 387-3316 or to the director of Multicultural Affairs for Students using the Student Complaint Form. In case of a medical emergency or an immediate threat to your personal safety, call 911. For non-emergencies, call WMU's Department of Public Safety at (269) 387-5555.
For detailed policies and procedures on what to do in case emergency occurs while you are on campus, refer to WMU emergency procedures.
The WMU Hotline at (269) 387-1001 and the University's home page are WMU's official sources for information on WMU closings due to weather or campus emergencies.
WMU Nondiscrimination Statement
Western Michigan University prohibits discrimination or harassment that violates the law or that limits opportunities of admission, employment, or education based on the protected classes of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, protected disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, height, weight, or marital status. Retaliation against any person or group who makes a good faith complaint or participates in a grievance, investigation or related processes is prohibited by law and policy. (View the full policy on the Non-Discrimination Policy page.)