by Felicia Fonseca
Daily Lobo
An open house in Mitchell Hall Wednesday kicked off the recent move of a group that has filled a void at UNM.
Peer Mentoring for Graduates of Color is an organization that works to build community among groups in graduate school that have historically been underrepresented at UNM. Although its name might indicate otherwise, the organization is all-inclusive and has over 80 students enrolled from various backgrounds.
Wednesday's event, sponsored by the organization in collaboration with the Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate, was scheduled so students could have the opportunity to see the organization's new office.
The new office was provided by the Office of Graduate Studies and is also part of the Graduate Studies' Office of Special Initiatives.
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"Many international students have a network of support, and we're trying to do something similar because it works," said Julian Baca, one of the organization's project assistants.
Through peer mentoring, academic, social, cultural and emotional support, the program looks not only to help retain students of color in graduate school, but to help them find funding and a career upon graduation, Baca said.
"It is recruiting and retention, but professional and social networking as well," he said.
So far, there are 80 students who mentor 50 others, all of whom were recruited during the program's inaugural semester in the fall. Each mentor is required to be a full-time graduate student, complete 18 hours and attend orientation and training for the job.
Those benefiting from the mentors keep in contact with one of two project assistants who run the day-to-day program, recruit and attend workshops.
Surveys are filled out to see if their needs are constantly being met, said Mariana Padilla, one of the program's mentors.
Emira Ibrahimpasic, who receives mentoring at PMGC, found the group through e-mail when she began her career at UNM. She said the group persuaded her to stay when she thought there was no money, no support and no reason.
"It is students taking action in their own success in their graduate career," she said.
The need for this type of group was recognized by UNM graduate students. The group members spent countless days together trying to establish an all-level support group and set goals, realizing their experiences in graduate school were similar, Padilla said.
At first, the group's biggest concern was having a vision, but not the funding or time to accomplish it, Padilla said. After they received funding through the Student Fees and Review Board and from the Office of the Provost, their financial worries ceased.
"We have succeeded in the sense that we've met and exceeded all goals in our proposal," Baca said.
Decisions made for the organization come from the steering committee, which is the group's governing board. The committee is made up of graduate students, a faculty member and a representative from OGS. Ditching the route of elected positions, they make all decisions based on group consensus, Padilla said.
Ultimately, the group's aim is to make graduate and professional programs at UNM more diverse. Those interested in PMGC can stop by the open house from 2-6 p.m. today.
"It's working great," Ibrahimpasic said. "There are few organizations set up that really take the concerns of graduate students into effect."
