If you aren’t familiar, Syracuse University’s Living Learning Communities (LLCs) are on-campus residential options organized around a shared academic interest or identity. Students in LLCs have the chance to connect with faculty, engage with their LLC focus on and off campus, and participate in community bonding activities. In addition to an LLC Resident Advisor (RA), many LLCs have Peer Mentors. An LLC Peer Mentor provides academic support to students by connecting them to resources on campus, facilitating workshops and study groups, and providing one-on-one support. The LLC office is currently hiring Peer Mentors for 10 of the LLCs for this coming fall, and here are five reasons why you should apply!
1. The Schedule
Peer Mentors spend several hours on the LLC floor every week. There is lots of flexibility in how many hours and when you schedule them. A weekly schedule can include floor hours, intentional interactions called Door Dialogues and meetings with the LLC team. Some Peer Mentors split their time on the floor across two days, while some schedule them on the weekends. The job fits around your schedule and when your LLC mentees will be in the dorms. Peer Mentors work with their respective LLCs during the fall semester only, making it a perfect position for anyone thinking of going abroad in the spring semester.
2. Leadership and Skill Development
The Peer Mentor position is a great chance to gain leadership experience and build on a variety of other skills. The LLC programming allows Peer Mentors to engage with students through intentional one-on-one interactions called Door Dialogues and in group settings during workshops and study groups. Peer Mentors develop strong interpersonal, presentation and organizational skills. The position also pushes Peer Mentors to collaborate with the LLC team and offices across campus, including networking with faculty to support residents in their courses and connecting students to academic resources as needed, all while strengthening Peer Mentors’ problem-solving skills. It is a great opportunity to build on existing strengths and develop new connections!
3. Boost Your Chances of Becoming an RA
RA positions are highly competitive campus jobs, but being an LLC Peer Mentor could strengthen your RA application. The Peer Mentor role has similar responsibilities to an RA position with regular student interaction, connecting students with campus resources and providing guidance for any problems that students run into in their first semester at the University. It’s a great opportunity for you to show off your leadership skills that will transfer well to being a RA!
4. Help Out With Welcome Week
Peer Mentors help integrate the LLC experience into Welcome Week, AKA the start of the semester. If you think back to your first days on campus, you might remember feeling nervous and overwhelmed. The move-in and Welcome Week experience helps first-year students feel supported as they begin their journeys at Syracuse. Peer Mentors assist with move-in alongside Orientation Leaders and Goon Squad volunteers to help first-years get settled in. The LLC office also schedules an annual LLC picnic complete with food and games so students, LLC staff and faculty can get to know one another. It starts the year off on the right foot while Peer Mentors begin to build relationships with their mentees!
5. The LLC Residents
The most rewarding part of being a Peer Mentor is seeing your mentees grow more confident. Over the semester, Peer Mentors get to see them adjust to a college course load, navigate campus resources and advocate for themselves. As a mentor, you get to connect them to resources when they need it and celebrate their wins. The role is an opportunity to support them as they become a part of the Orange community, giving them skills that will serve them throughout their time at Syracuse University.
If you want to join the LLC team by becoming a Peer Mentor, you can apply on Handshake by Wednesday, Feb. 18. For more information on the different LLCs on campus and the open Peer Mentor positions, you can visit the LLCs website.
Written By Amelia Rudolph ’26, College of Arts and Sciences and Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs