Students Studying in The United States Global Student Mentor Program

The mission of the Office of Global Services’ Global Student Mentor Program is to:

1. support first–semester, F-1, International Graduate Students at Northeastern University on the Boston and Silicon Valley campuses. 
2. Help students transition to academic, social, and culture at Northeastern University and in the United States.
3. Foster meaningful connections with other new students.
4. Improve resource awareness and utilization.

Program Goals:  

• Through peer-to-peer connections, the program helps International Graduate Students on the Boston and Silicon Valley campus build community, navigate campus resources, and feel more confident in their new environment from the start of their program. 

How it works: 

• Global Student Mentors offer insights, share experiences, and help mentees navigate both university life and everyday living in the U.S.  

• A Global Student Mentor is a current international graduate student who spends time with new students to help them adjust to college life in a new country. 

• Students who receive this support are referred to as Mentees. 

A peer mentor is a current international student who spends time with new students to help them adjust to college life. The students who receive mentorship are called “mentees.”

Participating new students will be matched with an OGS Global Student Mentor. The mentor will reach out first via the Homebase platform to introduce themselves and set up the first meeting. Throughout the academic term, mentees will connect with their mentor in person through 1-1 meetings, small group sessions, and group gatherings. Small group meetings take place in-person at least once per month. Mentees can ask questions and receive advice from the perspective of an experienced Northeastern student. Mentors will help their mentees set goals and make steps toward completing these goals throughout the first semester at Northeastern. Mentees might consider discussing the following with their mentors:

• How to access resources on campus
• How to join a club or get involved with the campus community
• Suggestions for developing college-level study skills
• How to use public transportation in Boston
• Questions about American culture
• Feelings of homesickness

Within the GSM Program, students will have the opportunity to build community in various forms:

1. Small Group Sessions
2. At least 2 GSM Meetups (events) per semester
3. Affinity Groups

Small Group sessions are led by a Global Student Mentor and are designed to introduce parts of the curriculum while providing a more intentional space for community development.

GSM Meetups are a great opportunity to meet people from all over the world with a shared experience- a first semester graduate student at Northeastern.

Affinity groups are identity based groups designed to connect students to campus resources for long term support and resources.  The GSM Program only supports students in their first semester, so this is a great way to get connected to the broader campus community.  Currently, the Affinity Groups include:

• First Generation
• Women

It is important that mentees make the same level of commitment as their mentor. This includes being responsive to your mentor and making time in your schedule for regular meetings throughout the whole semester.

Northeastern has many different mentorship programs, so please review other options to find which program best supports your interest and needs. The OGS program is dedicated to supporting international students in their cultural transition and academic success. Therefore, we cannot guarantee that your mentor will be a student in your same academic program. If you are interested in peer support specific to your academic program, please consult with your academic advisor to see what may be available. 

OGS hires for new Mentors periodically. When Mentor applications are open, you can find the application on the Student Employment portal from your Student Hub page. Mentors can be domestic or international graduate students who have completed at least one semester at Northeastern University. When ready to hire, there will be several days of marketing on Instagram and information in the Newsletter before the application opens.  Make sure to follow nu_ogs on Instagram if you are interested in becoming a Mentor.

Expectations of a mentor include:

Mentorship 

• Support a cohort of up to 10 – 25 mentees at one time. 

• Meet with Mentees in person at least once per month in a group setting. 

• Conduct weekly outreach via text, email, or the Mentorship Platform. 

• Become familiar with campus resources to support your mentees.  

• Connect with mentees at Global Student Mentor Exclusive Events.  

Curriculum 

Lead mentees through existing online Mentor Curriculum on topics that include:  

• Educational content and material development, and user experience design.  

• Working on a team and collaborating with others to initiate new efforts in expanding interactive learning content. 

• Managing online groups and platforms to ensure and improve user and community engagement. 

Event Support 

• Be present and support on-site event operations to ensure the event runs smoothly. 

• Assist with event setup and breakdown. 

• Take photographs at OGS events. 

• Contribute to additional projects as needed to support international students and the broader work of OGS. 

Marketing Support 

• Basic graphic design skills with Canva or other tools.  

• Assist with creating social media content, email campaigns, and promotional materials.  

• Write original captions for social media posts. 

• Basic understanding of content creation (social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Facebook). 

Administrative Duties  

• GSMs can work on additional projects as needed. Other duties as assigned to support international students and OGS.     

• Mentors are not responsible for and should not provide any immigration or visa-related advice or information.  Mentors are not Career Coaches or Advisors and will not provide a resume or job search review.  

Qualities we value 

• Willingness to learn and be coached through structured training. 

• Friendly, outgoing, and professional communication style. 

• Genuine desire to help others by providing guidance through empathy, active listening, and resource utilization. 

• Strong verbal communication, written communication, interpersonal and relationship-building skills. 

• Prior coaching or leadership experience.  

Benefits 

• Advancement and recognition opportunities with promotion from within. 

• Grows leadership capabilities.  

• Skill development. 

• Diversify your network 

• Work on and participate in cool events 

Desired qualities include: 

• Interpersonal skills 

• High communication skills 

• Cross-cultural sensitivity 

• Problem solving 

• Patience 

• Excellence in customer service 

• Professionalism, including punctuality and follow-through 

• Interest in creating an inclusive community at Northeastern 

Mentors are not responsible for and should not provide any immigration or visa-related advice or information. 

Mentors are not Career Coaches or Advisors and will not provide a resume or job search review.  Please direct student questions to Experiential Education and Career Development.