WILSON COLLEGE
STUDENT-ATHLETE MENTOR (SAM)

Mission:  The Wilson College student-athlete mentor program serves as a peer to peer resource to other student-athletes to help promote student-athlete wellness and support the development of a well-balanced lifestyle that encourages their emotional well-being, personal growth, and positive decision-making skills.

Objectives:

• Provide mentorship for first-year student-athletes to help them in their adjustment to college life, to Wilson College, and their sport team(s)
• By creating a safe, healthy atmosphere for student-athletes, SAMs will provide leadership and promote athletes to make healthy choices
• Recommend coping strategies and assist teammates in finding resources for problem-solving
• Facilitate communication between coaches, administrators, and student-athletes

Recruitment:  Peer mentors can be recommended by other student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and or be self-nominated.  Completion of an application, interview, and training will be required.

Desired Qualities:

• Objective- remains objective and non-judgmental when communicating with other student-athletes.
• Trustworthy- keep meetings and communications with teammates confidential unless the situation warrants advice from a professional.

•  Student-Athletes must be able to feel comfortable in approaching a SAM.
•  Must serve as a good role model of responsible healthy behaviors on and off the field.
•  Eager to participate in the program and should have a desire to help other student-athletes.
•  Have a positive outlook on Wilson College Athletics and be prepared and willing to help others.

Expectations:

• Attend all SAMs meetings and training sessions
• Recognize a teammate who may need support
• Be knowledgeable of campus and community resources
• Be a positive role model
• Support and uphold the mission and philosophy of the athletic department

Resources to Mentors:

• Athletic Department Administrators
• Wilson College Counseling  Center
• Academic Support Center
• Monthly "Check-ins" with the SAMS group
• Training-(Motivational Interviewing, Bystander intervention, creating boundaries, etc.)

Opportunities for Additional Leadership:
At the beginning of each academic year, nominations for the SAMs chairperson will be taken and then voted upon by the current SAMs membership.  The candidate receiving the most votes will serve as the chairperson and the runner-up will serve as the vice-chair.  Responsibilities as chairperson and vice-chair include coordinating monthly SAMS meetings, recording minutes from meetings, appointing committee chairs for SAM-sponsored events, and serving as the SAMs representative to the Wilson SAAC.

SAM Roles and Responsibilities:
 
SAM (Student-Athlete Mentor) Program provides returning student-athletes with the opportunity to mentor and assist incoming students with their adjustment to college and Wilson College and their sport team(s).

1. Meet the first-year teammates at the beginning of the academic year.
This will be the SAMS opportunity to reach out, offer to be a friend and a resource, to be welcoming, and assist incoming students with their adjustment to college and Wilson College and their sport team(s).
2.  To promote effective communication skills between and among athletes, coaches, and administrators, and applicable campus resources. 
3. To privately address concerns with an individual.  Through motivational interviewing and active listening, and bystander interventions, SAMS will approach peers with an attitude of support and confidentiality.  The SAM should also be able to communicate the concerns of the player in a manner that is satisfactory to both the coach and teammate.
4. To promote and encourage responsible social behaviors and choices among teammates, educating teammates in various topics and their abilities to properly handle situations that arise with their peers.
This can include but is not limited to: promoting responsible drinking behaviors among teammates, helping teammates understand the rules of the College Athletics concerning overnight recruits and social situations.
5. To help promote student-athlete wellness and support the development of a well-balanced lifestyle that encourages their emotional well-being, personal growth, and positive decision-making skills.
6. To coordinate programming, orientations, etc.