CSL Mentorship & Peer Support 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A mentee consistently cancels scheduled meetings with their mentor. What is the BEST first step for the mentor?
- End the mentoring relationship immediately
- Check in with the mentee to understand any barriers they are facing (Correct answer)
- Report the mentee to their academic advisor
- Continue scheduling meetings without addressing the pattern
Correct answer: Check in with the mentee to understand any barriers they are facing
A caring mentor addresses cancellations by first exploring the mentee's circumstances before drawing conclusions.
Question 2: Which communication style is MOST effective when a peer mentor gives constructive feedback?
- Blunt and directive to save time
- Passive to avoid conflict
- Specific, respectful, and focused on behavior rather than character (Correct answer)
- General and vague to protect feelings
Correct answer: Specific, respectful, and focused on behavior rather than character
Effective feedback targets observable behaviors and is delivered with respect to preserve the mentee's dignity.
Question 3: A peer support volunteer notices a student they support is showing signs of depression. What is the appropriate response?
- Diagnose the student and recommend medication
- Ignore it to respect the student's privacy
- Provide a listening ear and refer the student to campus counseling services (Correct answer)
- Share the student's situation with friends to build a support network
Correct answer: Provide a listening ear and refer the student to campus counseling services
Peer supporters offer empathic listening and facilitate professional referrals rather than providing clinical intervention.
Question 4: In formal mentoring programs, what does 'goal-setting' between mentor and mentee primarily accomplish?
- Gives the mentor authority over the mentee's decisions
- Creates shared direction and measurable benchmarks for the relationship (Correct answer)
- Replaces the need for regular check-ins
- Ensures the mentee follows the mentor's career path
Correct answer: Creates shared direction and measurable benchmarks for the relationship
Collaborative goal-setting aligns expectations and provides clear milestones to track progress in the mentoring relationship.
Question 5: What does 'active listening' look like in a peer support conversation?
- Interrupting frequently to share similar experiences
- Maintaining eye contact, nodding, and reflecting back what was heard (Correct answer)
- Offering solutions after hearing only part of the problem
- Texting or multitasking while the peer speaks
Correct answer: Maintaining eye contact, nodding, and reflecting back what was heard
Active listening involves full attention, nonverbal acknowledgment, and paraphrasing to demonstrate understanding.
Question 6: Which of the following BEST describes 'reverse mentoring' in a student leadership context?
- Older students mentoring younger students in academics only
- A structured arrangement where newer members share emerging skills or perspectives with experienced leaders (Correct answer)
- Mentees evaluating their mentors formally
- A program where faculty mentor students exclusively
Correct answer: A structured arrangement where newer members share emerging skills or perspectives with experienced leaders
Reverse mentoring leverages the fresh perspectives of newer members to help experienced leaders learn new skills or viewpoints.
Question 7: When a mentee achieves a significant milestone, how should a mentor BEST respond?
- Take credit for the mentee's success publicly
- Acknowledge the achievement and affirm the mentee's effort and growth (Correct answer)
- Move immediately to the next goal without pause
- Remind the mentee how much further they still have to go
Correct answer: Acknowledge the achievement and affirm the mentee's effort and growth
Recognizing milestones reinforces the mentee's confidence and validates the effort they invested.
CSL Mentorship & Peer Support 2
A mentee consistently cancels scheduled meetings with their mentor.
What is the BEST first step for the mentor?