Finding their way in post-secondary education: the power of peers as connectors, coaches, co-constructors and copycats

ABSTRACT

Utilizing an ecological model as a framework, we analyze the role of peers as connectors between an array of microsystems within a student’s post-secondary experience. We examine data from 128 student focus group participants from four colleges and eight universities in Ontario, Canada and conclude that peer interactions, both formal and informal, are critical in supporting student success. Respondents articulated that their peers connected them with resources and opportunities on campus, served as coaches and confidantes, co-constructed the environment to meet student needs and served as role models who they wished to copy or emulate.

KEYWORDS:

• Higher education
• peer learning
• peer mentorship
• student success

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Diliana Peregrina-Kretz http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8954-5853