Mentorship & Peer Programs Foundations Training is a 6-hour program to help you get the most out of your peer support experience by building your definition of leadership, identifying strengths and finding a community of peers on campus! This program will prepare you to serve as a mentor or peer advisor in a peer support role.
The training covers topics that are common to peer mentors and advisors across the University of Toronto, St. George campus.
Training options
Please note the difference between synchronous and asynchronous sessions:
- Synchronous sessions are hosted both virtually and in-person for the 2023-2024 academic year. Please ensure you note if the session is virtual (via Zoom) or in-person.
- Asynchronous sessions are take-home activities (available through the CLNx Program Tracker) that you can do on your own time.
- Synchronous sessions
Boundaries in Your Peer Support Relationship (2 hours)
- Identify and communicate boundaries.
- Describe how to respond to an urgent situation in an online setting.
Creating an Inclusive Environment (1.5 hours)
- Define an inclusive environment/relationship.
- Determine inclusive strategies that Mentors/Peers/Advisors can employ in their relationships.
Facilitating Groups (2 hours)
- Understand and adhere to policies regarding confidentiality.
- Demonstrate effective rapport building with groups.
- Facilitate a group discussion.
One-on-One Communication and Building Relationships (2 hours)
- Understand and adhere to policies regarding confidentiality.
- Demonstrate effective rapport building in an online setting with individuals.
- Practice active, empathetic listening.
- Practice compassion in conversations.
Academic Skills Starter Kit (2 hours)
- Apply questioning and active listening techniques.
- Explain five major strategies to foster academic success.
- Formulate personalized and suitable suggestions for students to try out.
- Asynchronous sessions
Find details for each asynchronous session on the CLNx Program Tracker.
The Mentoring Relationship (30 minutes)
- Describe the scope of the mentoring relationship
Identify, Assist, Refer (30 minutes)
- Describe how to support individuals experiencing significant challenges to their mental health
Knowing Your Resources (1 hour)
- Demonstrate how to find an appropriate resource/referral to meet the needs of mentees
Building Rapport Online (1 hour)
- Understand why it is essential for mentors to work on developing skills regarding building rapport in an online setting.
Creating Group Intentions (30 minutes)
- Understand the importance of setting intentions, either in a partnership or in a group setting.
- Describe how setting intentions allows the mentor and mentee to outline and communicate expectations
Mentorship & Peer Programs Foundations Training is a CCR eligible program. Read the requirements under HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS.
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Program Eligibility
This training is appropriate for any student who is serving in a peer support role at the University of Toronto, St. George campus.
If you are a student who is interested in the training but do not serve in a peer support role, please contact mentorship@utoronto.ca before registering for any workshops.
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How The Program Works
Check out the Mentorship Foundations Overview (PDF).To earn CCR recognition, you must:
- Complete and submit a pre-reflection on the CLNx Program Tracker.
- Participate in a minimum 5.5 hours of training (including Creating an Inclusive Environment). This is recorded on the CLNx Program Tracker to measure your progress.
- Complete and submit a post-reflection on the CLNx Program Tracker.
- Check if there are specific segments you must complete with the coordinator of your mentorship or peer program.
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Program Registration
Read Mentorship Foundations General Registration (PDF).Register for the program:
Please log in to CLNx and go to Program Registration to register for Mentorship Foundations Training.
For instructions on how to register on CLNx, watch Using the CLNx: Register for programs:
Register for individual workshops:
For instructions on how to register on CLNx, watch Using the CLNx: Registering for events:
Have questions? Connect with us at mentorship@utoronto.ca.
Boundaries in Your Peer Support Relationship
- July 7, 2023 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. (via Zoom)
- July 21, 2023 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. (via Zoom)
- August 9, 2023 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. (via Zoom)
- August 20, 2023 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. (via Zoom)
- August 25, 2023 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. (via Zoom)
- September 10, 2023 from 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. (via Zoom)
- September 15, 2023 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. (via Zoom)
- September 23, 2023 from 1 – 3 p.m. (via Zoom)
- January 16, 2024 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. (in-person)
- January 31, 2024 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. (via Zoom)
- February 10, 2024 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. (via Zoom)
Creating an Inclusive Environment
- July 12, 2023 from 12 – 1:30 p.m. (via Zoom)
- July 20, 2023 from 10 – 11:30 a.m. (via Zoom)
- July 25, 2023 from 4 – 5:30 p.m. (via Zoom)
- August 2, 2023 from 10 – 11:30 a.m. (via Zoom)
- August 14, 2023 from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. (via Zoom)
- August 30, 2023 from 7 – 8:30 p.m. (via Zoom)
- September 8, 2023 from 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. (via Zoom)
- September 19, 2023 from 2:30 – 4 p.m. (via Zoom)
- September 28, 2023 from 12 – 1:30 p.m. (via Zoom)
Facilitating Groups Online
- July 19, 2023 from 1 – 3 p.m. (via Zoom)
- August 17, 2023 from 2 – 4 p.m. (via Zoom)
- August 22, 2023 from 6 – 8 p.m. (via Zoom)
- September 19, 2023 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. (via Zoom)
- September 26, 2023 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. (via Zoom)
- October 3, 2023 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. (via Zoom)
- January 23, 2024 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. (via Zoom)
- January 27, 2024 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. (via Zoom)
- February 7, 2024 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. (via Zoom)
One-on-One Communication and Building Relationships
- July 11, 2023 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. (via Zoom)
- August 3, 2023 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. (via Zoom)
- August 15, 2023 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. (via Zoom)
- August 20, 2023 from 1 – 3 p.m. (via Zoom)
- September 10, 2023 from 1 – 2:30 p.m. (via Zoom)
- September 12, 2023 from 1 – 3 p.m. (via Zoom)
- September 23, 2023 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. (via Zoom)
- September 27, 2023 from 2 – 4 p.m. (via Zoom)
- January 17, 2024 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. (via Zoom)
- January 22, 2024 from 2 – 4 p.m. (in-person)
- February 10, 2024 from 1 – 3 p.m. (via Zoom)
Academic Skills Starter Kit
- July 17, 2023 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. (via Zoom)
- August 23, 2023 from 1 – 3 p.m. (via Zoom)
- September 5, 2023 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. (via Zoom)
- September 7, 2023 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. (via Zoom)
- September 12, 2023 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. (via Zoom)
- September 14, 2023 from 2 – 4 p.m. (via Zoom)
- September 18, 2023 from 3 – 5 p.m. (via Zoom)
- September 22, 2023 from 12 – 2 p.m. (via Zoom)
- September 26, 2023 from 3 – 5 p.m. (via Zoom)
- October 2, 2023 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. (via Zoom)
- October 11, 2023 from 3 – 5 p.m. (via Zoom)
- October 18, 2023 from 6 – 8 p.m. (via Zoom)
- January 18, 2024 from 3 – 5 p.m. (via Zoom)
- February 6, 2024 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. (via Zoom)
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Considerations & Exceptions
Some mentorship programs will host their own mentorship training. To find out if it qualifies as Mentorship Foundations Training for CCR recognition, please email mentorship@utoronto.ca.
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What Students Are Saying
RATE
US12 votes
Through the training, a highlight was truly the breadth of realistic case studies covered and the variety of thoughts shared during discussion. It really allowed me to probe my thinking in more than one way and gain a broader perspective on the situations discussed.
Mentorship Foundations Training participant, 2020-2021
I learned more about how to create online spaces that make everyone feel comfortable and welcome. In these challenging times, leading and creating a space that makes people feel engaged and able to contribute meant a lot to me as a mentor. I learned about resources I used to become a better mentor, and have more meaningful relationship with my mentees.
Mentorship Foundations Training participant, 2020-2021