University Peer Network Accelerator: Program Management Guide

1. Program Introduction & Benefits

This is a structured, 6-month experiential program designed to help university students systematically build and leverage their peer and professional networks. The core essence is behavioral change through high-volume, real-world practice, moving students from passive networkers to proactive relationship-builders to find reliable project partners and internship buddies.

Strategic Benefits for University Students:

1. Accelerated Opportunity Access: Students develop a robust, diverse network that provides early access to unadvertised project roles, internship referrals, and collaborative learning opportunities outside their immediate academic circle.
2. Enhanced Collaboration Skills: Through structured partner-matching and micro-projects, students gain practical experience in team formation, role negotiation, and collaborative execution, making them more effective in academic and professional settings.
3. Increased Career Readiness & Confidence: By demystifying networking and providing a safe practice environment, the program reduces social anxiety and builds the confidence and professional communication skills critical for internship searches and career launches.
4. Sustainable Professional Habit Formation: Students exit with a personalized, habit-based system for network growth and maintenance, ensuring their peer and professional connections continue to develop beyond the program's duration.
5. Cross-Disciplinary Community Building: The program intentionally bridges gaps between majors, year levels, and campuses, fostering a richer, more supportive university ecosystem and breaking down academic silos.

2. Program Expansion Strategy

Analysis: The primary goal is to "Expand peer network to find project partners or internship buddies." While not exclusively a Mentorship or Coaching program, the methodologies (GROW model, 70-20-10) clearly indicate that social learning and guided reflection are critical components. A supplemental Structured Peer Coaching Layer would significantly enhance outcomes by providing accountability, personalized strategy refinement, and a safe space to debrief outreach attempts.

Value Addition & Implementation:

• Why it Adds Value: Peer coaching pairs or triads create mandatory reflection points, accelerating learning from the 70% experiential component. They combat isolation, provide real-time feedback on outreach messages, and help students navigate setbacks. This structured support directly increases the quality and intentionality of connections formed.
• Implementation Note: Integrate a "Peer Coaching Pod" model. In Month 1, assign students to pods of 3-4 with mixed backgrounds. Provide a simple, recurring agenda based on the GROW model (Goal check-in, Reality share, Options brainstorm, Will/commitment). Facilitate bi-weekly pod meetings with guided templates, and train participants in basic active listening and coaching questions.

3. Implementation Roadmap

Launch Phase (Pre-Program & Month 1)

1. Define & Market: Finalize program name, key benefits, and eligibility. Target marketing through career centers, academic advisors, and student club leaders.
2. Application & Selection: Create a simple application to gauge motivation, goals, and current network challenges. Aim for a cohort of 30-50 students for manageability.
3. Kick-Off & Onboarding:
   • Host a high-energy launch workshop covering the program philosophy, 6-month journey, and initial mindset training.
   • Onboard students to the primary collaboration platform (see Tools List).
   • Conduct pre-program surveys (confidence, network size, goals).
   • Form Peer Coaching Pods and introduce the GROW framework.

Tracking & Operations (Months 2-6)

1. Weekly Rhythm:
   • Content Delivery: Release bite-sized video/content modules aligned with the 4 Content Pillars.
   • Power Hour: Host a weekly, optional virtual "Networking Power Hour" for live outreach, profile audits, or guest speakers.
   • Pod Meetings: Peer Coaching Pods meet bi-weekly with provided templates.
2. Monthly Cadence:
   • Milestone Reviews: Collect simple evidence (e.g., screenshot of updated LinkedIn, list of 5 new connections, project team charter) at each milestone.
   • Community Events: Host one major event per month (e.g., Alumni Speed Networking, Cross-Disciplinary Project Fair, "Showcase Your Work" night).
   • 1:1 Check-ins: Program manager offers optional 15-minute check-ins for students needing extra guidance.
3. Administration: Use the program platform to track attendance at events, submission of milestone evidence, and pod meeting completion.

Success Measurement

Quantitative KPIs:

• Participation: >80% session attendance rate; >90% completion of core milestone evidence.
• Network Growth: Average participant increase of 50+ relevant LinkedIn connections; 100% complete a final network map.
• Action: Average of 15+ coffee chats/informational interviews completed per participant.
• Outcome: >75% of participants in an active project partnership or defined internship buddy pair by Month 4.

Qualitative Feedback Mechanisms:

• Mid-point Survey (Month 3): Measure confidence in networking skills (Likert scale) and gather feedback on program structure.
• Final Survey & Exit Interview (Month 6): Assess perceived value, quality of relationships formed, and clarity on maintenance plan. Include open-ended questions on biggest learning.
• Success Story Collection: Solicit 3-5 detailed participant stories highlighting a project or internship opportunity secured through a program-forged connection.

4. Approved Tools List

• Internal Social Network (Primary Platform): This is the core tool for community building. It will host all program content, facilitate discussion forums (by interest cluster), enable participant profiles, and serve as the hub for event announcements and Peer Coaching Pod coordination. It mimics professional networking in a safe, internal environment.
• LMS (Learning Management System): Used to structure and sequence the release of the 4 core content modules, host video workshops, and distribute weekly action templates and reflection journals. It provides a structured learning path alongside the social platform.
• Personality Test (Supplemental): Administered in Module 1 to help students articulate their strengths, working styles, and value proposition. Tools like a simplified CliftonStrengths or working style assessment aid in self-positioning and forming complementary project teams.

Justification: Mentorship/Coaching software is not selected as the primary tool because the core activity is peer-to-peer, not a structured senior-junior mentorship. An Internal Social Network is ideal for fostering horizontal connections. The LMS provides necessary structure for content, and the Personality Test is a focused activity to aid self-awareness.

5. Resource & Content Library

General Program Content

• Video Workshops: "Crafting Your Student Value Proposition," "The Art of the Low-Stakes Coffee Chat," "From Contact to Collaborator: Scoping a Micro-Project," "Building Your Personal CRM (in a Spreadsheet)."
• Templates & Guides: Networking Goal Statement Worksheet, LinkedIn Profile Audit Checklist, Cold Message & Follow-Up Script Library, Coffee Chat Question Bank, Team Charter Template for Micro-Projects, Network Mapping Tool (Miro/FigJam template), Relationship Maintenance Calendar Template.
• Action Checklists: Weekly "Networking Power Hour" Agenda, Monthly Milestone Review Checklist, Pre-Event Networking Game Plan.

Supplemental Mentoring Content Table

Since a peer coaching layer is recommended, the following content should be provided to Pods to enhance their supportive interactions:

Content Topic	Format	Purpose
Active Listening for Peer Coaches	Short Guide / Video	To help pod members move beyond giving advice and instead facilitate clarity for their peers.
The GROW Model for Peer Sessions	Template & Example	Provides a simple, recurring structure for pod meetings to ensure they are productive and goal-oriented.
Giving & Receiving Feedback	Micro-workshop	Teaches how to offer constructive feedback on outreach messages and profiles in a supportive way.
Navigating Setbacks & Rejection	Discussion Guide	Equips pods to help members reframe unanswered messages or declined collaborations as learning, not failure.
Accountability without Pressure	Tips Sheet	Guides on how to hold each other kindly accountable to weekly networking actions.