The GSMP’s current structure supports about 80 first-year mentees through interaction with 30 peer and 12-14 faculty mentors throughout one academic year. Of the 80 mentees, half come from Humanities, the Arts, Social Sciences, and Education (HASSE) fields and the other half come from Science, Engineering, Technology, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. Across these two groups, students with disabilities, first-generation university students, socioeconomically and/or educationally disadvantaged students, students from underrepresented minority groups, students returning to school from a career, and/or students changing to a new field are given preference. International students are given secondary preference. The goal is to balance the composition of the GSMP between HASSE and STEM fields and to provide mentorship to people from diverse groups.

Each mentee is assigned to a mentoring “family” which includes 1-3 other first-year students and a peer mentor from a related field. Two to three families are then put into a “team” with a faculty mentor. The purpose of this structure is to allow the largest possible network of mentoring for each first-year mentee.

For mentees, the program begins with a comprehensive two-day orientation introducing them to graduate study at UCR and the various campus resources available to them. Throughout the year, mentees meet with their peer mentors individually, in families, or in teams on a weekly basis. They will also have the opportunity to meet with other mentees and mentors in quarterly group meetings, and one-on-one with their faculty mentor once per quarter. At the end of the year, the entire GSMP community comes together for a celebratory banquet.

In summer, a limited number of peer mentors work with our GradEdge/JumpStart students. During the academic year, mentors receive a 7% appointment and are paid $20/hour; they must not exceed 105 hours for the year. Peer mentors must be in good academic standing, and preference will be given to applicants in their third year or beyond.

Each year, two to three students are designated as “special topics” peer mentors. Rather than working in specific mentoring families, these mentors serve as a general resource for all teams. Recent “special topics” have included mental health, early career professional development, work/life balance, and communication.

Faculty mentors are recruited by the GSMP team and are expected to meet with their team once per quarter. Faculty mentors receive $1000 in research funds at the end of the academic year.

Incoming PhD or MFA student? You'll be emailed with an invitation to apply for the program beginning in the spring term prior to your arrival on campus!

Returning student? Applications to be a peer mentor open in the spring as well - check this website!

Email us about becoming a faculty mentor!