CSL Mentorship & Peer Support 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A student peer mentor is working with a mentee from a different cultural background. What is the MOST important approach?
- Assume cultural differences are irrelevant in academic settings
- Apply the same advice given to all previous mentees
- Practice cultural humility by asking questions and avoiding assumptions (Correct answer)
- Defer all conversations to a mentor who shares the mentee's background
Correct answer: Practice cultural humility by asking questions and avoiding assumptions
Cultural humility means approaching differences with openness, self-reflection, and a willingness to learn rather than making assumptions.
Question 2: Which of the following is a key characteristic of a successful peer support program on campus?
- Peer supporters act as therapists for students in crisis
- Peer supporters are trained, supervised, and know referral pathways (Correct answer)
- The program operates with no faculty or professional oversight
- Participation is mandatory for all first-year students
Correct answer: Peer supporters are trained, supervised, and know referral pathways
Effective peer support programs combine training, ongoing supervision, and clear referral protocols to keep students safe.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of establishing boundaries in a mentoring relationship?
- To keep mentors from becoming too invested in mentee success
- To protect both parties and maintain a professional, healthy dynamic (Correct answer)
- To limit the number of topics that can be discussed
- To ensure the mentor maintains authority over the mentee
Correct answer: To protect both parties and maintain a professional, healthy dynamic
Clear boundaries protect the wellbeing of both mentor and mentee and preserve the integrity of the relationship.
Question 4: A first-generation college student is paired with a peer mentor. Which topic is MOST likely a priority for this mentee?
- Graduate school application timelines
- Navigating campus resources and institutional processes (Correct answer)
- Joining a professional sorority or fraternity
- Building an investment portfolio
Correct answer: Navigating campus resources and institutional processes
First-generation students often lack family knowledge of college systems, making campus navigation a critical early need.
Question 5: During a peer support session, a student discloses thoughts of self-harm. What must the peer supporter do FIRST?
- Keep the information confidential to protect trust
- Ask the student if they feel they need professional help and connect them to crisis services immediately (Correct answer)
- End the session and avoid further discussion to prevent making things worse
- Consult friends for advice before taking action
Correct answer: Ask the student if they feel they need professional help and connect them to crisis services immediately
Disclosures of self-harm override confidentiality — the peer supporter must prioritize safety and connect the student to professional crisis resources.
Question 6: What role does 'modeling' play in effective mentorship?
- Mentors demonstrate behaviors and attitudes they want mentees to develop (Correct answer)
- Mentors create strict templates for mentees to follow exactly
- Mentors show mentees how to avoid making any mistakes
- Mentors act on behalf of mentees to complete difficult tasks
Correct answer: Mentors demonstrate behaviors and attitudes they want mentees to develop
Mentors model the values, habits, and skills they hope to cultivate in mentees, making abstract concepts tangible.
Question 7: Which ethical principle is MOST relevant when a peer mentor is asked to keep a mentee's academic dishonesty secret?
- Loyalty to the mentee always overrides institutional policies
- Mentors must report all mentee disclosures to faculty
- Confidentiality has limits — mentors should not assist in covering up violations of academic integrity (Correct answer)
- The mentor should confront the mentee publicly to deter future dishonesty
Correct answer: Confidentiality has limits — mentors should not assist in covering up violations of academic integrity
Confidentiality in mentoring does not extend to concealing academic integrity violations; mentors should encourage ethical behavior and clarify this limit.
CSL Mentorship & Peer Support 3
A student peer mentor is working with a mentee from a different cultural background.
What is the MOST important approach?