About the Program

The Peer Leader Program began in the mid-1970s as a response to the needs of many incoming students of color. In Northfield, multicultural support networks of family, friends, churches, and social/cultural institutions were nonexistent then and, to a large degree, are not present outside the Carleton community now. Intercultural Peer Leaders are sophomores, juniors, and seniors who have done well academically, are active in the Carleton community, and are enthusiastic about meeting and assisting new students, sharing with them their knowledge and experience. IPLs also plan programs and activities for the community as a whole. Intercultural Peer Leaders offer first-year students a personal perspective on the experience of living, growing, and succeeding in a community that encourages diversity and individual differences and have often served as friends and mentors.

Program Objectives

The program offers a variety of services to address the academic, cultural, and professional development of students of color at Carleton. The program is designed to assist students in their personal development, to help them define academic goals, and to assist them in establishing and maintaining priorities.

In order to meet these objectives, the following have been identified as program goals:

• To assist new students of color in making a successful transition to the college (short term),
• To increase the persistence rate of new first-year students of color (long term).

If you would like to sign up for the Carleton Connections program, contact the Office of Intercultural Life.