PLSCI 4975

Undergraduate Peer Mentoring and Leadership Development in SIPS

Course Description

Course information provided by the 2025-2026 Catalog.

Being a club officer or a peer mentor is an opportunity to learn about leadership and collaboration, as well as communication and the challenges of balancing diverse responsibilities. Preparation in this arena can serve a student for life, from learning how to engage in the workplace to being involved in community organizations and learning responsibilities ranging from conflict management to serving as a fiscal steward. Opportunities for leadership development and growth will vary; in general, they include learning how to: foster inclusiveness and a healthy, positive social atmosphere among members and peers; respond to student concerns; communicate and collaborate effectively with staff, faculty advisors, and other faculty, staff, administrators and students; reflect on and articulate experiences with other mentors or club officers throughout the semester; and maintain the reputation, continuity and history of a Cornell organization.

Last 4 terms offered 2025SP, 2024FA, 2024SP, 2023FA

Learning Outcomes REF-FA25

• Communicate and collaborate effectively with staff, advisors, faculty, staff, administrators, and students.
• Foster inclusiveness and a healthy, positive social atmosphere among members and peers.
• Recognize the signs of students in distress and respond appropriately.
• Communicate the breadth and depth of campus resources that assist students.
• Model excellent study habits, as well as how to engage with others in collaborative settings that foster learning.
• Collaborate with other mentors or club officers to increase peer-to-peer and peer-to-university professional interactions.
• Model and articulate how mistakes and failure are a natural part of the learning process, as well as an opportunity for growth.
• Model attributes of positive mentoring, including compassion, responsiveness, integrity, and confidentiality.

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