Define the criteria for your peer mentoring program. Establish principles for it, such as who qualifies to function as a peer mentor; what responsibilities that involves; and how to implement those responsibilities, either in conjunction with tutorial programs or as a separate function within your academic institution. Determine what level of experience within the academic institution your program requires, such as junior year of a degree-focused program. Establish whether mentors in your program will advise strictly on an in-campus basis or whether, as is the case at the University of Vermont, mentors also assist their peers with information about the town where the campus is situated.
Establish an application process for incoming students who need peer mentoring. Determine whether you need to reach out to particular groups within the academic community, such as freshmen students, transfer-in students from another school, minority groups or children of immigrant parents.
Establish a different application process for students to apply to serve as mentors. Examine existing programs at other institutions for ideas of what kinds of characteristics to test for in the application process and testing tools to identify those traits. Ensure, at the most fundamental level, that peer mentors have a fundamental knowledge of college or university life at your specific institution that enables them to help their mentees learn college jargon, assist them in processes such class registrations, and direct them to resources and services throughout the campus.
Plan and prepare training for mentoring students to assist them in understanding their role. Determine the form such training will take. Options include brief special instruction sessions early in the semester or academic year or a full-semester, for-credit practicum course that incorporates activities like journaling about their mentoring efforts. Create a handbook for the mentoring program for use by all program participants.
Define a way to engage students in the peer mentoring program, both those mentoring and those mentored. Use social or recreational activities like ice skating or bowling nights to help students engage with the program. Promote deeper student engagement in the program by involving them in the planning of these special events.
Publicize the mentor program and application process on an ongoing basis, starting as soon as possible after you've completed the application and training materials.