Mentoring Programs

What is a mentee?

A mentee is a student who volunteers to be assigned to a UAHuntsville minority student mentor. She/he will ask for guidance when academic questions or other challenges arise.

What is a mentor?

A mentor is someone who provides students with support, counsel, friendship, reinforcement and constructive example. Mentors are good listeners, people who care and want to help others.

What does a mentor do?

A mentor will set up a regular meeting schedule with their mentee(s). She/he will meet with their mentee on campus, by e-mail, or phone. Discussion topics range from academic success, career goals and strategies for other topics. The mentor will serve as a resource to assist a student with navigating the university system and introduce them to various campus services.

The Research

Latest research indicates mentorship:

• increases academic success
• increases student self-esteem
• increases job success
• increases positive social interactions by students

Mentorship benefits for first year students

• Immediate connection with a UAHuntsville student and trained mentor who can offer a full picture of campus life and answer your questions.
• To ENHANCE the student college experience and give students an edge-- making college life easier, and resources more accessible.
• Interactions with faculty, staff, alumni and mentors who can provide insight about UAHuntsville.
• Friendly advice in a supportive environment.
• Informal one-on-one and group guidance.
• Fun activities, programs and events that touch on broad aspects of campus life.
• Meeting other first-year students who share your same academic and extra- curricular interests and making worthwhile connections to faculty and staff.
• Learning about campus and community resources and activities with your own personal campus guide.

How Does The Mentoring Program Work?

The Undergraduate Minority Mentoring program is designed to ENHANCE (not replace) the student college
experience and give students an edge--we hope the program helps make college
life easier, and resources more accessible; it works alongside a students'
normal college experience, with their schedules and interests that may be
beyond the scope of Mentoring.

• Representatives from the Office of Undergraduate Minority Mentoring will be available during each new student orientation program to introduce the program and answer questions.
• Peer Mentors contact Mentees over the summer, to confirm their participation and remind them about upcoming events.
• All participating Mentees are invited to meet their peer mentor, faculty, and staff mentor and the other first year students during our fall kickoff mixer.
• Mentors follow up with mentees after the kickoff mixer to arrange meetings throughout the semester.
• In addition to kickoff, mentees are invited to a series of monthly programs that are planned especially for them by our staff, which they learn about through emails, newsletters and reminders from their Mentors.
• Mentees choose when and how frequently they would like to meet during each month. Mentors are required to meet regularly (minimum 1-2 times a month) with mentees and provide feedback on a monthly basis.
• Mentoring groups communicate with each other in person or by phone, email or face book during the
  semester.
• Mentees have the opportunity to shape their own mentoring experiences through dialogue and action planning initiated by mentors, and attending and participating in the many planned events by our staff on a voluntary basis.