UA Library’s Undergraduate Services Team (UST) Peer Information Counselors (PIC) Program

UA Library’s Undergraduate Services Team (UST) UA Library’s Undergraduate Services Team (UST) Peer Information Counselors (PIC) Program Peer Information Counselors (PIC) Program

Jeffery CruzJeffery CruzThe Fifth Annual Graduate Student SymposiumThe Fifth Annual Graduate Student Symposium

Saturday, November 14, 2009Saturday, November 14, 2009


What is a Peer Information Counselor?

A Peer Information Counselor is an undergraduate student—usually from an underrepresented cultural group—, who is hired, trained and acts as a peer tutor in information and research skills.

Based on three main premises:

Peer

Information

Counselor

• Undergraduate Student• Diverse Background

• Information and research skills are part of a foundation for a successful academic experience

• Receive training and provide services beyond a typical student worker• A large research library is intimidating and confusing, especially for underrepresented and/or first-generation students (MacAdam and Nichols)

“Experience suggests that the use of minority students as peer counselors, by fostering a greater sense of membership in the university community, can overcome several of the barriers to effective library use by multicultural student community” (Russel and Skinkle).

“The Peer Information Counselor (PIC) Program is based on the premise that students, particularly undergraduates, are more likely to approach a peer to assist with their information needs. The peer counselors are a corps of undergraduate students from a variety of ethnic backgrounds (African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, Chicano/Hispanic, and Native American)” (Rivera)


History – University of Michigan LibraryHistory – University of Michigan Library• Undergraduate Library (UGL) begins the Peer Information Counseling Program in 1985

• Program Description

• Started as a one of many programs to recruit and retain underrepresented

students

• First 3 years: Budget

• Assistant Librarian’s salary

• $10,000 per year on PIC student salaries

• $2,000 per year on supplies

• First year: 7 underrepresented juniors and seniors

• PIC Activities (MacAdam and Nichols)


History – University of Arizona LibraryHistory – University of Arizona Library

• In place since 1993

• Program Description

• Started as a way to actively draw underrepresented and international

students, who chose cultural centers over the library

• Recruitment and Training

• Basic Activities

• In 1998, the Undergraduate Services Team (UST) expanded the PIC program

• Developed partnerships with cultural centers and student organizations

(Norlin)


UA Library’s UST PIC Program Students—Fall 2009UA Library’s UST PIC Program Students—Fall 2009

Current Activities and Expected Outcomes

• Work-study

• Information Commons: Information/Reference and Technology Desks

• Ongoing Information, Reference and Research Training

• Campus Engagement

• Cultural Centers

• McKale Center Student Athlete Study Tables

• Disability Resource Athlete Study Table

• Library Instruction and Workshop Presentations

• Connections between Knowledge River and PIC

• African American Student Center• Chicano/Hispano Student Center• Native American Student Center• Asian Pacific American Student Center


Challenges for Academic Librarians: Effects and Need for Challenges for Academic Librarians: Effects and Need for OutreachOutreach

Why do we still need programs like PIC?

“I am often asked if programs like PIC still need to exist. My answer lies in the still disparate college graduation rates between White students and underrepresented students of color. At the University of Michigan, 87% of White students graduate within six years of starting, while only 66% of African American students do so.” (Downing, 2005).



Graduation Rates by Known Ethnicity Graduation Rates by Known Ethnicity


Challenges for Academic Librarians: Effects and Need for Challenges for Academic Librarians: Effects and Need for OutreachOutreach

Other Outcomes• Transition from PIC Programs to Librarianship• PIC Students are better prepared for their college careers• Leadership skills• Valuable job experience • Library staff exposure and work experience with students from underrepresented

backgrounds

Future Research• Longitudinal study on former UA PIC students


ReferencesReferencesDeese-Roberts, S., & Keating, K. (2000). Library instruction: A peer tutoring model. Englewood, Colorado: Libraries Unlimited.

Downing, K. E., MacAdam, B., & Nichols, D. P. (1993). Reaching a multicultural student community: A handbook for academic librarians. The

Greenwood library management collection. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press.

Downing, K.E. (2005). The MultiDimensional Impacts of the University of Michigan Library’s Peer Information Counseling Program. Unpublished

manuscript, Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

MacAdam, B., & Nichols, D. P. (1989). Peer information counseling: An academic library program for minority students. Journal of Academic

Librarianship, 15(4), 204-09.

Norlin, E. (2001). University goes back to basics to reach minority students. American Libraries, 32, 60-63.

The Office of Institutional Research & Planning Support, The University of Arizona. (2008). Four-Year Graduation 1991-2004. Retrieved from

http://oirps.arizona.edu/files/Student_Demo/Compendium2007/FR_FTFT%20Overall_Charts_Graduation4.pdf

The Office of Institutional Research & Planning Support, The University of Arizona. (2008). Six-Year Graduation 1991-2002. Retrieved from

http://oirps.arizona.edu/files/Student_Demo/Compendium2007/FR_FTFT%20Overall_Charts_Graduation6.pdf

The Office of Institutional Research & Planning Support, The University of Arizona. (2009). The University of Arizona Factbook 2008-2009.

Retrieved from http://oirps.arizona.edu


Many Thanks to:Many Thanks to:Alex Rivera, Outreach Librarian, Undergraduate Services Team, UA Libraries

The UA PIC Program Students: Alicia, Arlette, Chase, Deleesia, and Mohamed

Knowledge River, Cohort 8

Sandy Littletree, Knowledge River Manager, SIRLS

Patti Montiel-Overall, Associate Professor, SIRLS

The Undergraduate Services Team, UA Libraries


Questions?Questions?

Documents

UA Library’s Undergraduate Services Team (UST) Peer Information Counselors (PIC) Program