Peers supporting peers in post secondary education

1. Tricia Seifert, Diliana Peregrina-Kretz,
Jeff Burrow, Christine Arnold,
& Kathleen Moore
Finding Their Way: The
Role of Peers as
Connectors, Partners, and
Role Models in
Postsecondary Education

2. Before we begin
We are very excited to share this power point presentation with you online!
A version of this presentation was delivered at:
– The American College Personnel Association (ACPA) on April 2, 2014
– The American Educational Research Association (AERA) on April 7, 2014
– The Canadian Society for the Study of Higher Education (CSSHE) on May 25, 2014
– The University of Toronto, St. George Campus – Student Life Day of Learning 2014
Please cite this presentation in the following format:
Seifert, T., Peregrina-Kretz, D., Burrow, J., & Arnold, C. (2014). Finding their way:
The role of peers as connectors, partners, and role models in post secondary
education. [PowerPoint Slides]. Retrieved from:
http://supportingstudentsuccess.wordpress.com/
If you have any questions about this presentation please contact the Principal
Investigator, Dr. Tricia Seifert at tricia.seifert@utoronto.ca

3. To understand how stakeholder groups perceive
their institution's organization and approach to
supporting student success.

4. Methodology
• Constructivist methodology – participants play a role in
the data interpretation
• Interviews with senior administrators, faculty
collaborators & individual faculty
• Focus groups with faculty, SAS staff, students & student
leaders
• Depictions and Drawings of how their institution
supports student success and their efforts in
supporting student success

5. Sample
128 students
122 Student Affairs and
Services staff
42 Senior Admin
80 faculty participants
N=372
Two publically-funded
education sectors:
Colleges (4) and
Universities (9)
Varied geographic location, size,
mandate and programming
▪Eastern, Western and
Northern Ontario, GTA
▪Research intensive,
primarily undergraduate,
applied degrees, diploma,
certificate programs
▪Diverse communities

6. Data Analysis
1. Data were transcribed
2. Overarching domains developed
3. Explicated codes developed
4. Reviewed & coded student data where peers are
discussed
5. Categorized data into multiple roles that peers play in
supporting student success

7. Theoretical Framework
Renn and Arnold’s (2003) adaptation of Bronfenbrenner’s (1993) Ecological Model
of Development
Administrators

8. Administrators
Classes
Staff
Job
Faculty
Connecting Findings to
Theory
Mesosystem
Peers
Student
Individual
Microsystems
Programs &
Services

9. Research Findings: Roles of
Students
• Connectors
• Encouraging Partners
• Role Models & Paying it Forward

10. Connectors

11. One of the things that I enjoyed most
about the Psychology Club is that you
learn so much more from students who
are currently going through it and [who
are] willing to chat with you…and tell you
things that other people aren’t.
--College Student

13. A few weeks ago my mentee who is in her first year,
she asked me “how do you get through it?”
….I couldn’t answer her right away because I had to
go home and really think about it, ‘cause I went
through the last three years of my life and asked
myself ‘really how did I get through it?’ ….And then
I realized that it is because of the support I got
from my classmates as well as my co-workers who
are also students.
--University Student

15. People [peers] started looking at me as a
leader and mentor [in class]. I am ok with
that. They [peers] see me differently and
ask for help. I was there once too.”
--University Student

16. Fostering a Positive Peer Culture to
Support Student Success
Peers
Individual
Microsystems
Programs &
Services
Classes
Staff
Administrators
Jobs
Faculty
Mesosystem of a
Student

17. Phase III – Spring 2014
• 11 colleges & universities (English and French) across 4
provinces
• Survey of Faculty, Staff, Senior Academic Officers,
Senior Student Affairs and Services Officers
• Correlate with student year-to-year retention and
completion
• Recruiting institutions for Spring 2015 participation
• Interested? Contact Tricia.Seifert@utoronto.ca

18. Thank you to all of our partner
institutions, participants and
funders.
We appreciate your support.

19. Follow our research at:
@CdnStdntSuccess
Like “Supporting Student Success”
Check out the research study blog at:
www.supportingstudentsuccess.wordpress.com
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