What is mentoring?
Mentoring is intentionally focused on the growth and development of an individual (Mentor@Iowa).
Overview of iPeer Mentorship Program
The main goals of the iPeer Mentorship Program are to provide support to new international students in F-1 or J-1 statuses for their transition to a new country and the University of Iowa's culture, their personal development, and to empower them to become leaders on campus.
The iPeer Mentorship Program is working with the GradLife Peer-to-Peer Program to support and empower graduate students across campus. All graduate mentor pairs are welcome to participate in any and all activities associated with either program.
On the undergraduate level, the iPeer Mentorship is working with campus partners to better support and empower international undergraduate students’ transition to a new country and a new academic environment.
2025-2026 Application
Undergraduate students: Coming soon. Save the date for mentor training: Friday, August 22, 2025.
Graduate students: Coming soon (through GradLife Peer-to-Peer application). Save the date for mentor training: To be announced.
The iPeer Mentorship Program Commitments
The program is a one year commitment. Mentors will be selected based on recommendation and a selection process. Before the start of the program, mentors will go through training to understand mentoring, relationship building, and familiarization of campus resources.
Mentors and mentees are required to attend a kick-off event, a closing event (specific to undergrad mentors & mentees), and have a monthly check-in conversation during the semester. Mentors and mentees are encouraged to attend group events together to explore Iowa, and to have conversations about important topics such as cultural adjustment, personal and career development, leadership, and more.
Expectations
Mentor Expectations
- Actively support assigned mentees with their goals during their transition process throughout the academic year, including attending training and group events, as well as conducting a monthly check-in
- Share knowledge and empower your mentees to grow and develop skills to navigate the campus and their journey at UI by checking in with your mentees
- Respect the needs and opinions of your mentees
- One year commitment
- Additional expectations for undergraduate mentors:
- Help to develop materials for the mentees
- Present about mentor experience at closing event at the end of the academic year
Mentee Expectations
- Actively engage in conversations with your assigned mentors, including attending kick-off, closing, and other group events, as well as monthly check-in
- Be responsible for your growth and learning, and encourage the growth of others
- Be respectful of your mentor’s time and boundaries
- One year commitment
- Additional expectations for undergraduate mentors:
- Present about mentee experience at the closing event at the end of the academic year
About Mentor/Mentee Matching
The program will try its best to match you with a mentor/mentee based on available mentors/mentees as well as what you need the most support or are hoping to get out of the mentorship experience. For graduate students specifically, because many academic programs have their own mentorship/buddy programs and you will have plenty opportunities to interact with others in your own department, we find it beneficial to match you with someone outside of your direct department, so that your support network can be broadened.
iPeer in the News
Meet Fascha Aryasa: The UI data science major turning international education into real-world impact
A global vision with local impact: How PhD candidate Jeff Lai is shaping change at Iowa and beyond
Q&A with Frankline Matanji
Program History
In Fall 2020, a project group was formed within the International Student Advisory Board (ISAB), including two undergraduate members (Yangyi “Edward” Luo and Zephyr Xiao) and two graduate members (Jeff Lai and Alaa Albashayreh), to discuss the development of a peer mentorship program. Some of the initial goals of the program included connecting a new student with an experienced international student prior to their arrival to help answer questions related to arrival, provide informal advice on academic, career exploration, and connect the new students to campus resources and opportunities once the new students arrive on campus. Additional feedback was gathered from all 2020 – 2021 ISAB members. In Spring 2021, a pilot program was run by the project group members. By the end of Spring 2021, the mentorship program was officially named iPeer Mentorship Program, and the operation of the program was transitioned out of ISAB.
The Importance of the iPeer Mentorship Program
While numerous mentorship programs exist on campus, iPeer is currently the only peer-to-peer mentorship program designed specifically for international students. The shared experience from an international student mentor can help normalize transition and adjustment concerns due to language and cultural differences. Furthermore, mentors are carefully selected and trained so that they can connect their mentees to campus resources and opportunities.
Program Name
The mentorship program name, iPeer, was selected in spring 2021. “I” stands for “international” and “Iowa.” “Peer” emphasizes the peer connection.