Student Perceptions of Benefits and Challenges of Peer Mentoring Programs: Divergent Perspectives From Mentors and Mentees

Abstract

In this exploratory research, the authors categorize the benefits and challenges of participating in a mentoring program from the perspectives of mentors and mentees. The authors use the mentoring framework proposed by Crisp and Cruz in 2009 to inform educators. The authors report the percentage of mention, the level of occurrence, and the effect to university experience related to these benefits and challenges. Mentors reported the process of role modeling to be most beneficial yet challenging. Mentees reported psychological and emotional support to be most beneficial, but academic and knowledge support to be challenging. The authors provide discussions on recommendations for designing undergraduate mentoring programs.