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CORE Peer Program

  2. Student Experience
  3. Advising & Support
  4. Cultural Diversity
  5. CORE Peer Program

About CORE Programs at U of G

CORE (Creating Opportunities for Racial Equity) programs at U of G include the CORE Peer Program for first-year students and the CORE Mentorship Program for upper-year students.

About the CORE Peer Program

The CORE (Creating Opportunities for Racial Equity) Peer Program is a free program designed to assist first-year Black and racialized students with the transition to life at the University of Guelph. The CORE Peer Program provides students with the opportunity to connect with an upper year student (a CORE Peer Mentor), within a similar program area or identity as well as other first year students in a group format (called your CORE Peer Group).

Benefits of participating in the CORE Peer Program
  • CORE Peer Mentors are in your corner and have been in your position before. They can provide insight into navigating your identity as a student, academics and other opportunities offered at the University of Guelph. They are also there to answer questions you may have.
  • This program uses group mentorship. This means you will be meeting with your CORE Peer Mentor in a group with other first-year Black and racialized students (1:4 ratio). It is an opportunity to connect, share your experiences and learn from each other’s experiences.
  • The CORE Peer Program supports mentees in building self-efficacy and skills to find balance in the start of their academic journey. This includes discussing how race and identity may impact your experience as a student, learning about your personal values, boundaries-setting, how to budget, and more.
Connecting with your CORE Peer Group
  • As a registered mentee in the program, you will meet with your CORE Peer Group bi-weekly until March 2024
  • You will decide how your CORE Peer Group will meet and what to discuss each meeting
Other Features of the Program
  • Events focused on skill and community-building
  • Check-in meeting with program staff
  • The opportunity to provide feedback about the program

Join the CORE Peer Program as a New Student (Mentee)

The CORE Peer Program is open to new undergraduate domestic and international students who identify as Black or racialized and are looking for peer support in their transition to the University of Guelph. Mentees in the program are expected to attend bi-weekly meetings from the start of the program (October) until the end of the program (March 2024). Registration is now closed.

Hear from our past participants!

“I am really glad that I was part of the CORE Peer Program this year” - Mentee

“Being a Peer Mentor has not only been beneficial for my mentees, but for my growth too” - Peer Mentor

“The program’s resources and topics of discussion were relevant and helpful” - Peer Mentor  

Join the CORE Peer Program as CORE Peer Mentor

If you are a current upper-year student (Undergraduate students in second year and above or Graduate) who identifies as Black or racialized and is interested in providing guidance and support to a group of new incoming students, this position is for you! You will receive training about how to provide support through group mentoring and you will have access to a space to connect with other CORE Peer Mentors.  

The CORE Peer Mentor position is a volunteer position that is formally recognized by the Professional and Career Development record. To be a Peer Mentor, you must be enrolled for at least one academic year at the University of Guelph, and be available for bi-weekly meetings until the end of the program (March 2024). Applications are now closed.