CEHD Mentor Program: Student program overview

The CEHD Mentor Program is designed to help undergraduate students in the areas of business and marketing education (sales and marketing focus); family social science; human resource development; kinesiology; recreation, park, and leisure studies; and sport management make contacts in their local professional community and receive an opportunity to enhance their professional skills.

This program is targeted at juniors and seniors. Students can take full advantage of the career exploration and developmental opportunities that the mentor program offers. The guidance of a mentor can help students to become more focused in their career goals, and to develop professional skills they will need as they begin internships and move into the workplace.

The CEHD Mentor Program exists to enhance students’ professional skills outside the classroom. Mentors can respond to questions, help make professional connections, and give feedback on job-search skills and strategies. The relationship is not designed to provide employment. Therefore, mentors should not be solicited for job leads within their organizations. Students should think about their career goals and interests, and what they would like to accomplish in their mentoring relationship. Students should expect to commit 2-4 hours a month to the Mentor Program, but each student and mentor pair will make decisions about the kinds of activities they do.

The goals of the CEHD Mentor Program are to:

• Provide experienced and knowledgeable role models for undergraduate students seeking careers in the above-mentioned fields.
• Provide informal advice and counsel for students seeking to clarify their career directions.
• Provide coaching on the skills and attitudes which will improve students’ success in their chosen career.
• Increase understanding of the breadth and depth of the field.
• Help students connect with professional associations or explore other career development opportunities.

Timeline

Applications will be reviewed and matches selected in October. The first meeting between mentors and students will be at the mentor orientation dinner. The orientation dinner will facilitate the mentors and students getting acquainted. We hope this meeting will help to get the relationship off to a good start. The mentoring activity occurs during fall and spring semesters concluding in April. During the course of the program, mentors and students will also receive information about events and activities especially appropriate for mentor participants.

Student eligibility

In order to be eligible for the 2007-2008 CEHD Mentor Program, you must be:

• Enrolled in the College of Education and Human Development in the the areas of business and marketing education (sales and marketing focus); family social science; human resource development; kinesiology; recreation, park, and leisure studies; or sport management.
• In good academic standing in your program.
• Able to attend the mentor orientation dinner to meet your mentor or attend a separate facilitated meeting.
• Students who previously participated in the program can apply again.

Expectations

Mentors are volunteering their time to help guide students with their career goals. We expect students in the mentor program to be proactive and willing to commit time and effort to make the most of the opportunity. To participate in the program students must:

• Participate in the mentor orientation program.
• Initiate regular contact with your mentor via phone, e-mail and/or meetings, be committed to maintaining contact with your mentor 2-4 hours per month, and see the relationship through to its official end. Contacting mentors may sometimes require persistence on the part of students. Remember to leave messages that inform your mentor about when and how to reach you.
• Discuss your goals, needs, and what you hope to gain from the relationship with your mentor.
• Act professional at all times, and return phone calls/e-mail messages in a timely fashion.
• Show up at meetings and events that you have committed to attending.
• Complete program evaluations when appropriate.
• Immediately notify the College (Patti Neiman, p-neim@umn.edu, or 612-625-6826) if circumstances require you to stop participation in the mentor program or if your mentor is not fulfilling his/her responsibilities.

Suggested Activities

• General career advice
• Resume review
• Job shadow at mentor’s workplace
• Informational interviews with others in the field
• Networking opportunities and advice
• Mock (practice) interview
• Tour of mentor’s place of employment, if appropriate
• Opportunity to attend a professional association meeting or activity with the mentor
• Note: There is no expectation that internships or employment opportunities will result from this mentoring relationship. Every effort will be made to secure mentors for each student that is accepted to the program. However, we can not guarantee a mentor for every student. Where we are not able to offer a suitable match, we will try to offer options. If no suitable alternatives can be found or agreed upon, applicants may not be able to participate in the program.

How to apply to the program