BUILD Peer Mentor Training Model: Developing a structured peer-to-peer mentoring training for biomedical undergraduate researchers

One of the key challenges many peer-to-peer mentoring programs are facing is the lack of high-quality mentor training. In order to address this issue, the BUILDing SCHOLARS (BUILD) program at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) implements a structured peer mentor training and provids the training to BUILD fellows at UTEP for four academic years. This paper focuses on introducing the BUILD Peer Mentor Training (BPMT) model and investigating its impacts on students, using program evaluation data. Our results reveal that BUILD peer mentors were satisfied with the BPMT and their relationships with the mentees. They also reported that the training greatly improved their problem solving, action planning skills and slightly improved their communication skills and skills in assessing a mentee’s understanding. Finally, four practical recommendations are provided for institutions and programs that might be interested in implementing a similar peer mentor training.