The UTSA Libraries Peer Research Coach program started in fall 2011 and has been running continuously ever since. The program provides students with a relatable source of information to understand and utilize the resources available at the library.
Nineteen students have served as Peer Coaches over the past five years. Currently there are three (Ashley Hamilton, Charlie Lhota and John Becker) working under the direction of Student Engagement Librarian Ellen Blumberg.
As students themselves, Peer Coaches help remove barriers that could prevent hesitant students from seeking help and understanding the scholarly information required for their courses. Peer Coaches are selected for their academic success, strong communications skills and a desire to make a difference in the lives of their fellow students.
“I always wish I had known everything that was available to me when I first came here,” says Becker, a first year Peer Coach. ”Now I can pass that information on to other students.”
Working 15 hours a week, Peer Coaches have a varied schedule and are typically assigned different tasks every hour to gain a broad range of experiences. These duties may include staffing information desks, participating in student outreach events, monitoring group study rooms, and managing their Instagram @RowdyTips account. The Coaches make themselves visible and available to their peers by regularly roving through busy areas while wearing their “Blue Crew” library staff t-shirts.
“UTSA Libraries benefits from the Peer Coaches’ student perspective, knowledge, enthusiasm, and dedication to helping their fellow students,” says Blumberg. “The Peer Coaches, in turn, learn by teaching and become more sophisticated and knowledgeable about scholarly research in their own majors. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
The Peer Coaches Program is made possible by grant funding from the USAA Foundation along with additional support from an endowment from the Hearst Foundation.