Your Buddy Mentor can assist you in making the most of your time at university. When you start university, you will go through a transitional period, as you will be adapting to new ways of learning and teaching and living away from home, often for the first time. Your Buddy Mentor will have gone through this transitional period, so they can understand what you are going through right now! They can give you those inside tips to help you settle in and navigate university life.

Your Buddy Mentor is only one source of information, so you should not expect them to solve every problem you have. Their role is primarily to provide you with a ‘student’s view’ of studying at Warwick in the Psychology Department and any insights or tips they can provide from this perspective.

Often the best advice they can provide you with is to talk to your Personal Tutor, Director of Student Experience and Progression, Wellbeing Team, Student Opportunity, the Year Tutor, the Undergraduate Office, the Students’ Union, the International Office, the Medical Centre, etc... Your Buddy Mentor will encourage you to make use of the facilities available at Warwick and if necessary, make you aware of all the facilities of which you can take advantage.

The Undergraduate Handbook contains a wide range of information; you will find the answers to most of your questions. If you’re unsure about something, ask your Buddy Mentor, and together you can have a look through the Handbook – two heads are better than one!

Possible topics to talk to your Buddy Mentor about;

• Settling into the UK (specific for international students)

• helping you settle into student life and orientate the university and city

• Living Independently.

• opportunities to meet other students from your course

• referencing, note taking and what to expect from the course

• where to live in your 2nd or 3rd year

• Students’ Union activities, clubs, and societies to get involved in

• Planning your time effectively.

• Finding resources to help with study skills (note-taking, referencing, essay writing), please note they will signpost you to resources only; they cannot go through your work.

Buddy Mentor offer support, including:

• insider tips on surviving the first year at university and student life specific to your department

• Ideas on the different opportunities you can get involved in around campus.

• Giving relevant, recent and reliable advice that they have been trained to provide

• Answering the questions you want to ask.

• advice on accessing university resources (Library, wellbeing, sports, where to study, Warwick skills)

How and when do we meet? You will request your Buddy Mentor via this page or the Psychology Society Facebook page, and the Buddy Mentor Scheme Manager will match you to a Buddy Mentor based on your requirements. Usually, you will meet with your Buddy Mentor once or twice a term, and meetings typically last up to an hour. You will only communicate via your Warwick email, and you must meet at the university, ideally in the psychology common room, library, student union, or oculus.

Confidentiality and boundaries. The Buddy Mentor Scheme is built on mutual respect and understanding. Your Buddy Mentor is not a replacement for your personal tutor or senior tutor; they are here to signpost and give a “student” perspective of transitioning into university. Please read the following Buddy Mentor code of conduct below.

Buddy Mentoring Scheme Code of Conduct

For the scheme to be effective and productive, there are expectations and boundaries that both Buddy Mentor and Mentees must adhere to.

• Any conversations between Buddy Mentor and Mentee must be kept private and per data protection guidelines.

• Your Buddy Mentor will have received guidance on this voluntary role.

• Your Buddy Mentor will note that you have met, but never what you have discussed. Your meetings are confidential, but there may be an occasion when your Buddy Mentor may need to contact a staff member, particularly if they are seriously worried about your wellbeing.

• Buddy Mentors and Mentees are to commit to any organised meetings, ensuring that they are punctual and engaging with each other. Please remember that your Buddy Mentor is doing this voluntarily. Please email one another in advance of the meeting if you cannot attend.

• Buddy Mentors and Mentees are to meet on a 1:1 basis or in small groups, but never in a private place, are all meetings between Buddy Mentor and Mentees to be held on University grounds.

• Buddy Mentors and Mentees are not to exchange landline numbers or addresses, the exchange of mobile telephone numbers must be considered by both parties, and the potential issues that could arise.

• Communication should be made during reasonable hours.

• Buddy Mentors and Mentees must respect and uphold the equality and diversity principles set out by the university. Please read the University's principles

• Any safeguarding concerns that arise must be communicated to the DSEP immediately.

• All Buddy Mentors and Mentees will adhere to the University and Unions Health and Safety policy and the code of practices and procedures available through the website.

• You might want to talk about academic skills. However, Buddy Mentor is not expected to provide detailed subject-specific advice. For example: Give detailed comments on drafts of written work, provide advice on departmental policies or provide detailed advice on academic issues such as referencing practice.

• Please read the equality and diversity guidelines here - https://warwick.ac.uk/services/equalops/findsupport/dignityatwarwickLink opens in a new window 
• Buddy Mentors and Mentees will be expected to complete relevant E&D moodle training course and send a certificate to your DESP.

• Please read the University's Safeguarding policy

• Buddy Mentors and Mentees will be expected to complete relevant safeguarding moodle training course and send a certificate to your DESP.
• Make sure you add these courses to your CV and that you are a mentor