Inclusive Postsecondary Education Mentor Outcomes Survey: Pilot Findings and Early Instrument Evidence

Abstract

This brief shares findings from the first pilot of the Inclusive Postsecondary Education Mentor Outcomes Survey (IPSE MOS). The Maryland Inclusive Higher Education Consortium (MIHEC) developed the survey to measure the personal, professional, and inclusion-related outcomes of peer mentoring in inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE). In 2026, 128 current and former TerpsEXCEED mentors completed the survey. Mentors reported strong gains in communication, leadership, confidence, and commitment to inclusion, and every mentor who answered would recommend mentoring. Former mentors said these effects lasted beyond the role. Career-related outcomes were less consistent; about six in ten former mentors said mentoring influenced their career interests or choices. Mentors rated the survey as clear and relevant. Agreement was very high across most items, though, so the next step is to refine the instrument so it better captures differences among mentors. We discuss implications for mentor programming and evaluation across IPSE programs.