Queer/Trans Peer Mentoring Program
What is the Queer/Trans Peer Mentoring Program (QTPM)?
Queer/Trans Peer Mentoring is a pilot program that pairs students who identify within the LGBTQ+ with faculty and staff who are knowledgeable and identify within the LGBTQ+ community at CSUMB.
The program is designed to take place every semester to aid in the transition to college and the supportive mentoring relationships you create may last longer.
For more information, comments, or concerns please contact Bianca Tonantzin Zamora (she/hers) at bzamora@csumb.edu
Why is Mentoring Needed?
Adjusting to college can be a difficult experience for everyone, but for the LGBTQ+ community, it can be especially difficult to navigate a new social or cultural dynamic. Mentoring helps people develop a positive LGBTQ+ identity by providing a supportive relationship, accurate information, and a safe person to talk with about concerns related to adjusting to college and campus life at CSUMB, coming out, or connecting with the LGBTQ+ community.
What Happens in a Mentoring Relationship?
Mentors provide their Mentees with a supportive peer-to-peer relationship focused on helping the Mentee transition to life at CSUMB. Each relationship is unique to the needs of the Mentee and the interests and personalities of each participant. In general, Mentors will set up regular, informal meetings such as getting coffee, taking walks, or attending events on campus with their Mentees to provide social support.
What is the Time Commitment?
We ask our Mentors to participate in training on a variety of topics prior to their first meeting with their Mentee. The training is dependent upon Mentor schedules. Mentors should expect to spend about 1-2 hours per week with their Mentee and also attend a Mentor group meeting every other week for the first half of the semester.
Mentees should plan to spend a minimum of an hour each week with their Mentor but are also encouraged to participate in additional events with other Mentees throughout the semester.