Challenges Managing a student ambassador program requires time, energy and human capital, which can make the program appear challenging (Ruderman & Niparko, 2010). This includes involvement by the institution, faculty and the student body. The timelines of programming peer support presents a challenge as it is beneficial to always have ambassadors available to the student body (Brady et al., 2014). The workload of the program, which could end up falling on the supervisor, is another challenge that might turn faculty away from involvement in this programming (Brady et al., 2014). Difficulty recruiting ambassadors and selecting participants for the program present another challenge in getting a new student ambassador up and running (Brady et
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The University of Victoria has an established student ambassadors program with many members. At their campus, ambassadors are a group of dedicated student volunteers who increase campus spirit, connect with students, support recruitment and orientation and give back to the university through meaningful volunteer experience (University of Victoria, 2016). Simon Fraser University is another local school that has created a reputable ambassador program. Simon Fraser University (2016) boasts the following benefits of their student ambassador program: official recognition through co-curricular credits, a passport to leadership, boost personal and professional skills, be an involved participant on campus and flexible volunteer hours. At Camosun (2016), members of the student ambassador team have opportunity to develop leadership and communication skills, build their resumes, lead campus tours, share social media content, participate on student panels and be involved in events on campus. Camosun (2016) includes an entire job description for interested individuals and accepts new ambassadors at any …show more content…
High-quality relationships can provide emotional, practical, informational and companion support, and improve and maintain physical and mental health and well-being (Hammarberg, Sartore, Cann & Fisher, 2014). Julal (2016) confirms that while students often have professional help available to them, they tend to report and prefer social support from members of their social network. Family, friends, a partner, work colleagues and more formal sources such as support groups and community organizations are all means of social support networking (Hammarberg et. al, 2014). The perception of social support is another factor that can influence student use of support programs on campus, for example higher levels of perceived social support will lead to less use of student services with higher levels of psychological well-being (Julal, 2016). Initiatives are innefective when they fail to reach to population in need and peer support can be used as a means of reaching individuals that would otherwise not utilize support systems (Sokol & Fisher, 2016). This is one of the roles student ambassadors can play in engaging students in social support and facilitating the connection between students and
The University of Victoria has an established student ambassadors program with many members. At their campus, ambassadors are a group of dedicated student volunteers who increase campus spirit, connect with students, support recruitment and orientation and give back to the university through meaningful volunteer experience (University of Victoria, 2016). Simon Fraser University is another local school that has created a reputable ambassador program. Simon Fraser University (2016) boasts the following benefits of their student ambassador program: official recognition through co-curricular credits, a passport to leadership, boost personal and professional skills, be an involved participant on campus and flexible volunteer hours. At Camosun (2016), members of the student ambassador team have opportunity to develop leadership and communication skills, build their resumes, lead campus tours, share social media content, participate on student panels and be involved in events on campus. Camosun (2016) includes an entire job description for interested individuals and accepts new ambassadors at any …show more content…
High-quality relationships can provide emotional, practical, informational and companion support, and improve and maintain physical and mental health and well-being (Hammarberg, Sartore, Cann & Fisher, 2014). Julal (2016) confirms that while students often have professional help available to them, they tend to report and prefer social support from members of their social network. Family, friends, a partner, work colleagues and more formal sources such as support groups and community organizations are all means of social support networking (Hammarberg et. al, 2014). The perception of social support is another factor that can influence student use of support programs on campus, for example higher levels of perceived social support will lead to less use of student services with higher levels of psychological well-being (Julal, 2016). Initiatives are innefective when they fail to reach to population in need and peer support can be used as a means of reaching individuals that would otherwise not utilize support systems (Sokol & Fisher, 2016). This is one of the roles student ambassadors can play in engaging students in social support and facilitating the connection between students and