Mentor information

Pack Mentors are assigned a group of approximately seven incoming students within the same NevadaFIT boot camp. Packs and Pack Mentors are an important part of the NevadaFIT experience and the intensive transition to the university. The assigned Pack and Mentor will remain the same for the duration of the program. This allows students to build supportive networks and develop a sense of familiarity during the week as they experience the same challenges and celebrate their successes.

Pack mentor expectations

Pack Mentors are crucial to the overall success of NevadaFIT and the individual success of NevadaFIT participants. They are expected to be an academic and social role model, helping guide students through their intensive transition to the University. They are expected to follow mentoring guidelines and instructions of the NevadaFIT Central training as well as their college mentor training. Being a mentor includes being kind and patient to incoming students. Through this role, mentors will serve as a liaison between students, faculty and University staff.

Mentor duties are focused on student success and include the following examples:

• Facilitate study groups, academic skills workshops and Pack Mentor sessions
• Help pack members learn to manage stress and balance academic and social obligations
• Help students take advantage of campus resources and assist with referrals, when necessary (e.g. Academic advisor, Counseling Services)
• Help Pack members to understand their assignments and syllabi
• Assist with navigating Canvas and other learning management systems
• Evaluate Pack members' participation and engagement in NevadaFIT

Pack Mentors are not expected to be tutors, but instead, a resource for NevadaFIT participants to learn how to balance their academic, professional and social obligations, navigate campus resources, build solid time and study habits, and understand academic expectations at the University.

Benefits of becoming a Pack Mentor

Pack Mentors earn a stipend to help pay for their own education. Beyond a stipend, mentors develop leadership skills to create long-lasting relationships with faculty and staff in your academic major,. Spending time as a Pack Mentor has intrinsic benefits and many mentors return each year. Along with enhancing their resume for future employers, Pack Mentors make a significant impact on both NevadaFIT participants and the University of Nevada, Reno community.

TransferFIT Pack Mentor

The TransferFIT Pack Mentors play a crucial role of the TransferFIT program. Similar to NevadaFIT Pack Mentors, these leaders are assigned approximately seven transfer students to guide them through their TransferFIT experience. TransferFIT Pack Mentors can be any major, as long as they have transferred to the university from another higher education institution. TransferFIT Pack Mentors share the same benefits as NevadaFIT Pack Mentors, including earning a stipend, developing leadership skills, and engaging in networking opportunities with faculty and peers. The TransferFIT course continues virtually into the fall semester and ends in December. TransferFIT mentor employment would follow the same timeline, but mentors would only be required to commit around 10-15 total hours spread out over the fall semester. Mentors will assist the Central Team with some light grading and student engagement discussions and events. Transfer students can apply for this position through the NevadaFIT Pack Mentor application. You do not need to have attended TransferFIT as a student to apply.

Other employment opportunities

Students can also apply to be a NevadaFIT Central Team Leader. This role takes students behind the scenes of the NevadaFIT program. Team Leaders will assist with social media presence, photography, sorting and organizing inventory, and the logistical support of both NevadaFIT and TransferFIT. During the fall semester, a limited number of students may be enrolled in an online NevadaFIT makeup course due to extenuating circumstances. Central Team Leaders will assist the NevadaFIT makeup course instructors with some light grading and student engagement (online discussions and limited in-person events). Students can apply for this position through the NevadaFIT Pack Mentor application

Digital Wolf Pack Initiative (DWPI) Ambassador is another role students can apply for. DWPI ambassadors must be available in July and August to help with unboxing, bagging, and distributing DWPI technology. Students can be NevadaFIT mentors and DWPI ambassadors simultaneously.