Philosophy: "Students Helping Students." The Ujima Peer Mentoring Program
is a student-run, peer-advisor program for first-years of Pan African Descent.
Objective: The primary objective of the Program is to contribute to the
advancement of first-year students by aiding in their academic, emotional and
social adjustments to college and by nurturing their academic and leadership
potential. Ujima Peer Mentors provide encouragement and act as "Professional
Friends." The goal is to maintain the enrollment of the Pan African
students at The Claremont Colleges.
Membership: All students of Pan African descent, who are admitted to The
Claremont Colleges, are invited to membership in the Ujima Peer Mentor Program.

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HISTORY
In its thirty-plus-year history, the Office of Black Student Affairs (OBSA) can boast of supporting programs that are grounded in solid research. Peer mentoring is such a program. The OBSA Peer Mentor Program existed many years before Ujima, but the program needed help. That is what Pomona student Rhonda Lewis saw, and it is what she brought back to the Dean of OBSA: the Peer Mentor Program is ineffective and we cannot act as if it nurtures first-year students. She also expressed the many ways it did not meet her needs. OBSA’s Dean at the time countered by asking Ms. Lewis to think of ways to revamp the program. Their intent was not so much radical change as much as starting fresh. Together they decided on the name Ujima; they also partnered to write the description of the program. In 1996-97, the Ujima Peer Mentor Program was born, separate from OBSA by design, and funded by the Office of Black Student Affairs with the cooperation of Dean Benita Ramsey. During the first three years, Ujima was an independent program reporting directly to Dean Ramsey, and later to Interim Dean Leeshawn Moore.

Because of the program’s evolution, and subsequently its growing needs, the Ujima Peer Mentor Program became formally housed within the Office of Black Student Affairs in fall 2000 under the direction of Dean Hughes Suffren. Although the Program receives administrative oversight and funding from the Office of Black Student Affairs, it is a student-run program. The guiding philosophy is students helping students, and the role of staff is to ensure the well being of the Mentors and to offer support and maintenance to the Ujima Peer Mentor Program.

From 1996 to the present, the program has undergone significant growth and many positive changes. It has collaborated with three Deans, one Assistant Dean, two Coordinators of Student Leadership Programs, and a growing number of Ujima Head Mentors. The Program now boasts a staff consisting of a Dean, an Assistant Dean, a Coordinator of Student Leadership Programs, and four Ujima Head Mentors.

Some of the new Program initiatives include a fall retreat, a fundraising campaign, leadership conference presentations on the Program, a handbook for Ujima Peer Mentors, and future professional journal articles on the Program.

Today, the challenge of fostering the advancement of incoming students of African descent here at Claremont is as great as it was four years ago. However, today the Ujima Peer Mentor Program is stronger, wiser and more effective in aiding in the academic, emotional and social adjustment of Black students because of the hard work, commitment and creativity of those who have contributed over the years. We sincerely thank each and every one of you who have given of yourself to make this Program a success. Ideally, every first-year student of African descent arriving at Claremont will have a positive experience with an Ujima Peer Mentor. Moreover, as students progress in their academic careers, both Ujima and OBSA hope that they will, in turn, reach out to the next incoming class.

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He who learns, teaches.
(Ethiopian Proverb)

Mentors for 2003-2004
CMC Christin Kalaskie
CMC Kazumi Igus
CMC Whitney Richardson
Pitzer Courtney Cross
Pitzer Jameela Hammond
Pitzer Marjorie Scott
Pitzer Sydney Delaney
Pomona Ava Robinson
Pomona Chanta Lobin-Thomas
Pomona Charles Wharton
Pomona Chrisshonna Grant
Pomona Delilah Carolina
Pomona Fred (Fritz) Graham
Pomona Ilia Saddler
Pomona Kameelah Rasheed
Pomona Kaneisha Grayson
Pomona Karanda Bowman
Pomona Kofi Domfeh
Scripps Naomi Smith


When a King has good counselors,
his reign is peaceful.
(Ashanti Proverb)
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UJIMA PEER MENTOR PROGRAM STAFF
2003-2004

Dean
Hughes Suffren

Assistant Dean
Hasan Johnson

You Wanna Be A Ujima Mentor?
Below are the responsibilities and duties of the
Ujima Mentors and Head Mentors.

Mentor Applications for the following year are accepted at
OBSA in the Spring.

Ujima Peer Mentors
The position of an Ujima Peer Mentor is a seven month long commitment, beginning in August of each academic year and ending at the end of February. This position requires excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and a commitment to helping Mentees make a comfortable and effective transition from high school to college. A Mentor’s responsibility is to visit and report. It is the responsibility of the Mentor to initiate contact with his/her Mentee and actively encourage a continuation of the relationship throughout the year(s).

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PEER MENTOR RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Ujima Peer Mentors must maintain a grade point average of 2.5 or greater and be in good standing in their respective college.

2. Ujima Peer Mentors are to visit Mentees twice a month during the fall semester, and January and February during the spring semester.

3. Ujima Peer Mentors are to turn in forms on time or notify OBSA otherwise.

4. Ujima Peer Mentors are to attend required meetings or notify the Ujima Head Mentors or OBSA otherwise.

5. Ujima Peer Mentors must write or call Mentees during the summer.

6. Ujima Peer Mentors must attend Ujima Peer Mentor summer training.

7. Ujima Peer Mentors must participate in three activities with their Mentees.

B. Ujima Head Mentors
The position of the Ujima Head Mentor is a 14-month long commitment. The Head Mentors are a governing body that provides leadership, administrative assistance, and offers practical strategies for the operation of the program. They work together with OBSA’s Coordinator of Student Leadership, Development and Programs throughout the academic year to manage the Ujima Peer Mentor Program. This position requires excellent interpersonal and communication skills, effective time management, an ability to organize and delegate responsibilities, the ability to be a leader individually and as a team player, and a commitment to Pan-African issues. Head Mentors must be able to maintain close working relationships with both the Ujima Peer Mentors and the Office of Black Student Affairs staff.

HEAD MENTOR RESPONSIBILITIES
Ujima Head Mentors must:
Co-plan Summer Mentor Training.

Return to campus two-weeks prior to the beginning of fall semester to finalize
training schedule with Office of Black Student Affairs staff.

1. Correspond with OBSA staff throughout the summer.

2. Co-facilitate mentor training week.

3. Introduce Ujima to all first-year students during Orientation Week.

4. Evaluate Training Week.

5. Prepare a budget for the upcoming academic year.

6. Hold an event planning session at the beginning of the second semester
with other Head Mentors.

7. Participate in Head Mentor/ Mentor selection.

8. Foster inter-campus relations and relations with other Students of Color as well as ethnically based groups on all five campuses.

9. Meet regularly with the staff at OBSA.

10. Facilitate meetings with mentors from all campuses.

11. Mediate problematic circumstances between Mentors when necessary.

12. Make sure Mentors are fulfilling their responsibilities.

13. Coordinate and oversee Ujima programming.

14. Represent Ujima at various functions.

15. Publish Ujima News, a monthly newsletter for the Mentors and Mentees
that announces birthdays, activities and opportunities.

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