Connecting for Student Success

The Academic Resource Center’s (ARC) Peer Education team recently hosted a vibrant Faculty and Staff Partners Mixer, bringing together faculty from a variety of disciplines, including Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Languages, as well as staff from DukeLIFE, the Academic Advising Center, and the Office of Health Professions Advising. This casual event offered a unique opportunity for faculty and staff to connect, share ideas, and discover the many benefits of SAGE Learning Communities and Peer Tutoring.

“These moments of engagement strengthen the partnerships that support our students, ensuring they have the resources and mentorship needed to excel,” said Peer Education Manager Cheryl Beierschmitt. “It was inspiring to see colleagues come together, exchange ideas, and reaffirm our collective mission.”

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The SAGE (STEM Advancement through Group Engagement) Learning Communities are programs coordinated by the ARC to bolster classroom education. Small groups of 6-10 students in the same course meet with a Peer Educator to work through supplemental course material designed by faculty. SAGE Learning Communities meet weekly. SAGE Participants gain a stronger sense of belonging to an academic community, deepen their engagement with course content, and grow confident as a college STEM student.

Peer Tutoring Groups are small 2-5 student weekly meetings. Peer Educators lead their tutoring group through student-driven subject questions. Peer Tutoring Groups span a range of disciplines including foreign languages, natural sciences, engineering, economics, and quantitative sciences.

"I like the small group size and the student-led approach,” said Amelia Linton, Duke sophomore. “My tutor asks us which questions are most helpful to go over and suggests ones she thinks will be most important."

The ARC Faculty and Staff Mixer gave campus partners an informal opportunity to meet, mingle, and explore how they can support student success through collaborating with peer education programs like SAGE Learning Communities and Peer Tutoring.

Check out this inspiring video, where Kelly Hogan, the Director of Undergraduate Studies for Biology, shares her thoughts on the importance of peer education and encourages students to participate.