ASTR 497 A: Topics in Current Astronomy

*PEER MENTORING *GROUPS OF 4-5 ASTRONOMY UNDERGRADUATES, ASSIGNED AT THE START OF THE QUARTER, WILL PARTICIPATE IN A PEER-MENTORING FRAMEWORK IN WHICH STUDENTS TROUBLESHOOT ONGOING ISSUES THEY ARE HAVING IN THEIR ACADEMIC LIVES. STUDENTS WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO CONTINUE THESE PEER-MENTORING GROUP IN SUBSEQUENT QUARTERS. THE GOAL IS FOR STUDENTS TO BE EMPOWERED TO ACTIVELY SEEK SOLUTIONS TO ANY PROBLEMS THEY ENCOUNTER IN THE ASTRONOMY MAJOR AND IN THEIR ACADEMIC LIVES IN GENERAL. STUDENTS WILL CONFIRM WITH THE FACULTY MENTOR THAT THEY HAVE ATTENDED BI-WEEKLY MENTORING SESSIONS AND WILL BE ASKED TO COMPLETE A SHORT SURVEY AT THE END OF THE QUARTER ASKING THEM TO COMMENT ON THEIR EXPERIENCE