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Experiential Learning Mentoring
What is Mentoring?
Mentor: “one who provides one-to-one support and attention, is a friend and a role model, and enhances a student’s educational experience.”
Mentoring: “meeting regularly over an extended period of time with the goal of enabling a special bond of mutual commitment based on the development of respect, communication and personal growth."
E-Mentoring Vision
To provide a mentorship program environment that will aid the development of academic and personal goals, and to create a resource for students and professionals to enhance the skills needed to effectively build operational relationships centered on respect, communication and personal growth.
What can E-Mentoring to for me?
- Increased understanding of a specific field of work
- Enhanced networking skills and channels
- Strengthened professionalism
- Increased Alumni connections
Click on the following links for more information.
What is the E-Mentoring Program?
Mentoring Fundamentals
Who can be my mentor?
Suggested Weekly Topics
Forms and Guidelines
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What is the E-Mentoring Program?
The E-Mentoring Program in its second year, following the initial pilot run last semester (Spring 2005). The foundation of the program is the development of an ongoing professional relationship between an Eller business student and an Eller College Alumni. The pairing between the mentor and the mentee will be based upon major, industry, and career paths expressed by both parties. It will either be a one-to-one or one-to-many mentoring relationship, depending on the number of active participants we receive.
Eller College Alumni will mentor Eller students. The mentorship will include weekly, online discussions regarding suggested topics or any other topic the participants agree to discuss. A job shadow experience, or a 'day at the office,' is another option for the professional mentor and the student based on feasibility. The mentorship will commence roughly one month into the semester, at which time the professional mentor and the student will be notified of their pairing. The program will conclude at the end of the semester in which a final evaluation of the experience can be expressed.
Eller Blackboard is being used as the communication tool for the participants. Each student and mentor will have access to the Blackboard page. There is a discussion board for suggestions and comments for the program, a link to a web page for information interviews, and documents providing expectations and suggested mentorship topics. There will also be mid-semester and end-of-semester evaluations that will be posted and collected on the Blackboard page. At the end of the program, Alumni will be asked for their comments and suggestions for the program. At this time, mentors and mentees may request that their relationship continue through the program for the following semester, or the relationship can continue on its own.
For more information, contact Sarah Thompson Diaz at sdiaz@eller.arizona.edu to discuss the program in greater detail.
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Mentoring Fundamentals
Benefits for Students
- Increased understanding of a specific field of work
- Enhanced networking skills and channels
- Strengthened professionalism
- Increased Alumni connections
- Reinforcement of career building skills
- Technical, ethical and general business guidance
- Help to set and achieve personal/professional goals
- Increased confidence and motivation
Benefits for Mentors
- Opportunity to share your learning experiences
- A way give back to the community and students
- Increase personal and professional growth
- Increase access to future professionals
- Influence students as a role model
- Better listening, coaching and feedback skills
- Improved self-awareness
- Learning new approaches and ideas
- Satisfaction from helping others develop
Expectations of the Student
- Schedule your meeting times with your mentor in advance.
- Be flexible and have a variety of times you can be available.
- Be familiar with the industry and organization before meeting with your mentor.
- If you wish, you may write a brief letter of introduction before contacting your mentor by telephone or e-mail.
- Be on time. If you know you will be late, call and let your mentor know.
- Respect your mentor’s time - don't wear out your welcome. The average time for an information discussion is about 30 minutes.
- Be prepared to answer questions concerning your interests, values, skills and where you would like to use them.
- It is a good idea to ask your mentor for referrals to others who might be able to provide valuable information on the career(s) that you are considering.
- Submit mid and final evaluations (available on Blackboard)
- Always maintain professional contact, keeping in mind you are representing the Eller College .
- This experience is intended to provide you with exposure to your industry of choice and to build a professional relationship with a business alumnus. However there is no guarantee that this individual can provide you with a full-time or internship opportunity.
- The focus of the experience should be on learning more about your mentor and their professional career path.
Expectations of the Mentor
- Meet online with the mentee at least once a week
- Establish a respectful, friendly, and communicative relationship with mentee
- Encourage mentee to establish goals and to work towards those goals
- Submit mid and final evaluations
General Guidelines
- Establish a set of communication methods
- Only discuss appropriate topics
- Maintain respect at all times
- Honor meeting times
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Who can be my mentor?
Students need to think about whom they would like to be their mentor and why. The Eller College Associates (ECA) that will sponsor the mentorship experiences are all alumni and friends of the college in the Tucson business community. Briefly explain what you hope to get out having a professional business mentor.
If for any reason, the student decides not to participate after they have received a match they must inform the PDC coordinator, so that the opportunity can be given to another student. Students need to work together closely with the Professional Development Center coordinator to ensure that the experience is documented in our alumni records. The final evaluation of your experience must be submitted on or before the last day of regular class.
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Suggested Weekly Topics
Discussion Items Prior to Mentorship
When you connect with your Mentor , here are some items to discuss and information to share prior to their visit to your organization.
- Decide what days and times are best for the both of you to either meet online or check the Blackboard page.
- Discuss the timeframe of each virtual meeting (20 min., 30 min., etc.).
- Set clear expectations for the relationship and brainstorm what kinds of discussion topics are would be most helpful for you.
- Mentors should obtain appropriate clearance for their mentorship if necessary.
- Possibly schedule a date for a 'day-at-the-job' for the student to see first-hand what the Mentor 's career is like.
- Provide your background of academic experiences (major, year, clubs/organizations, career interests) so your Mentor can get to know you.
Week 1: Mentor’s Present Job
- How did you choose this career field?
- How do you spend your time during a typical workweek?
- What do you find most rewarding about the work?
- What are the toughest problems you must deal with?
- If you were ever to leave this kind of work, what would drive you away from it?
- Would you describe the organizational structure of your company?
- What is the average length of time employees stay with your organization?
- What type of formal or on-the-job training does your organization provide?
- How does your organization compare/differ with its competitors?
Week 2: Particular Organization or Company
- What are the main job categories within this organization?
- What "types" of people tend to be in each?
- Why did you decide to work for this organization and what do you like most and least about it?
- How does your company differ from its competitors?
- How does your organization distinguish itself from other organizations doing similar work?
- In what ways does this employer provide ongoing training and education for its employees?
- What is this organization's mission and philosophy?
- What is the "corporate / organizational" culture here?
- What do your hiring mangers look for on resumes and in cover letters? in interviews?
Week 3: Mentor’s Prior Experience and Preparation
- How did you prepare for this kind of work?
- What was your college major?
- If you were a college student again, had it to do all over, knowing what you know now, what would you do differently?
- What has been your career path?
Week 4: Mentor’s Career Future
- Does your work become more interesting as you stay longer?
- If things develop as you would like, what does the future hold for your career?
- If the type of work you do was suddenly eliminated, what different kinds of work do you feel you could do?
Week 5: Lifestyle
- How much flexibility do you have in terms of dress, hours, vacation schedule, place of residence, etc.?
- Must you perform all your job responsibilities in your place of work?
- What obligations do your work place upon you, outside of the ordinary workweek?
- Do you enjoy these obligations?
Week 6: Hiring Decisions
- If you were to hire someone to work with you today, which of the following factors would be most important in your hiring decision and why: Educational credentials? Past work experience? Personality or personal attributes? Specific skills and talents? Applicant's knowledge of your organization, department, or job? Others?
Week 7: Help Prepare for Career in Field
- What educational preparation do you believe would be best for working in this industry?
- What skills, talents, and personal qualities are most essential in this job?
- What kinds of experiences (paid employment or other) would you most strongly recommend?
- What credentials, educational degrees, licenses, etc. are required for entry into this kind of work?
- How rapidly is your present career field growing? What opportunities for advancement are there in this field?
- What entry-level opportunities offer the most ability to learn a great deal?
- What is the typical salary for these positions?
- How do people find out about jobs in this field? How are they advertised, or is word of mouth more important?
- Which professional journals and organizations would help me learn more about this field?
- How well suited is my background for this type of work?
- With the information you have about my education, skills, and experience,
- what other fields would you suggest I research further before making a final decision?
Week 8: Referral to Others/Networking
- Based on our conversation today, what other people do you believe I should talk to?
- Can you give me names of a few who might be willing to see me?
- May I have permission to use your name when I contact them?
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Forms and Guidelines
All applications and evaluations may be turned in directly to McClelland Hall room 204 (the front desk); or emailed to sdiaz@eller.arizona.edu.
Forms:
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Information adapted from the Association de Accounting Technicians Benefits of Mentoring and The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania Career Network materials. For more information, please contact us.
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