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multicultural and diversity programs: Minority Peer Advisor (MPA)
     
   
 

MPAs assist their Hall Director with administrative, advising and counseling responsibilities related to the retention of minority students (African Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans, and Hispanic/Latino/Latina Americans). They also supervise the MPAAs (Minority Peer Advisor Assistants) in the residence halls where applicable and provide crisis management through on-duty time. MPAs are directly responsible to the Coordinator of Project Awareness and the Hall Director of their building. The MPA position time commitment is 30 hours per week.

Specific responsibilities of Minority Peer Advisors include:

  • Assisting professional staff in the planning and implementation of required staff orientation, in-service training sessions, scheduled and special staff meetings, as assigned by Housing supervisors. 
  • Preparing reports as required by the Hall Director, Director of Minority Peer Advising and University Housing.
  • Maintain the provisions of the Residence Hall contract.
  • Assisting in conflict resolution, particularly involving students of color concerns.
  • Assisting with various aspects of academic advising in order to assist students of color in making academic decisions that are consistent with their personal goals.
  • Advising, assisting and supporting the minority organization in development and coordination of student of color programs in the residence halls.

Minority Peer Advisor Assistant
Minority Peer Advisor Assistants are responsible for assisting minority students (African Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans, and Hispanic/Latino/Latina Americans) in conjunction with the Minority Peer Advisor in their hall. MPAA staff are in Bursley, East Quad, Markley, South Quad, West Quad and Barbour/Newberry. They are jointly supervised by the Director of Multi-cultural Programs and the Hall Director of their building and have direct responsibility to the Minority Peer Advisor (MPA) in their building. The MPAA position time commitment is 20 hours per week.

Some specific responsibilities of Minority Peer Advisor Assistants include:

Identifying, being accessible to and establishing on-going communications with students of color in the hall.

  • Assisting in orientation of students of color to the hall and campus.
  • Assisting in the student of color organization in the hall, under direction of the MPA.
  • Counseling and advising residents, making referrals to other units when appropriate.
  • Assisting in conflict resolution, particularly involving students of color concerns.
  • Keeping the MPA informed about any event or condition, which effects an individual or group.
  • Assisting with various aspects of academic advising in order to assist students of color in making academic decisions that are consistent with their personal goals.