SEED MENTORINGPROGRAM HANDBOOK

2015-2016

TABLE OF CONTENTSMISSION

VISION

PURPOSE & GOALS

PROGRAM COST & COMPENSATION

PROGRAM EXPECTATIONS

PROGRAM STRUCTURE

LOGISTICS

PROGRAM EVENTS

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WHAT IS A MENTOR

FIRST-YEAR MENTEES

ALUMNI MENTORS

UPPER-LEVEL MENTORS

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

DOCUMENTATION

SPECIAL THANKS

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MISSIONThe mission of the Students Excelling in Education and Development (SEED) mentoring program is to provide academic and social connectedness that increases student success, program engagement, and university and community involvement for all program participants.

VISIONTo produce future College of Education and Human Development professionals who generate impact in their spheres of influence.

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PURPOSETo unite our disciplines under the premise that our future professionals can collectively develop the necessary skills and relationships to be forward-thinkers who are advocates for the success of themselves, the success of their peers, and the success of the College.

GOALSTo create a strong college identity with our incoming participating students that will further solidify their CEHD major choice To provide strong intra-disciplinary peer-to-peer accountabilityTo expose first-year students to campus and community resourcesTo strengthen the connection of professionally established alumni to our students

COST & COMPENSATIONCEHD is focused on student success. As a result, the SEED Program is offered at no cost to students who would like to be involved. The SEED program is volunteer-based and does not offer monetary compensation. Our mentors and mentees are paid through sharing, experience, and networking. Throughout each semester, CEHD will provide exclusive programming for SEED program participants.

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PROGRAM EXPECTATIONSThe most effective mentoring relationships last six months or longer. As a participant in the program, the College’s expectations are for each participant to engage in the mentoring process for one academic year.

This mentoring program is social in nature; however, mentors/mentees/alumni must practice appropriate limits to protect themselves and others.

The mentor/mentee relationship should remain focused on what is in the best interest of the student. Sometimes this might mean hearing or having to say something that is not always fun or pleasant but is necessary and beneficial for the student.

The mentor/mentee relationship should never become intimate during the course of the official mentor/mentee relationship. This blurs boundaries, is unethical, and can have serious personal, professional, and legal consequences.

Mentees will also be instructed to inform the CEHD Student Success Office if they feel subject to the above or concerned about blurred boundaries.

Mentors are not therapists or counselors and should never be expected to serve in this capacity and should never attempt to serve in this capacity.

Mentors are tutors and are not required or expected to assist with schoolwork. Mentors can choose to tutor their mentee if they choose.

Mentor/mentee pairs are expected to participate in events or which they register. In the event a mentor/mentee is a “no-show” for a paid event, the College reserves the right to charge the cost of your ticket back to your student account.

Mentor/mentee pairs should not be involved in any illegal or unlawful activity.

All WMU policies are in effect.

Anytime a mentor or mentee says or does something that is uncomfortable, inappropriate, alarming, hostile, threatening or otherwise concerning, please contact the CEHD Student Success Office immediately.

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PROGRAM STRUCTURE

At the beginning of the each year, incoming first-year students interested in joining SEED are paired with upper-level students in their shared program of study. Once matched, this pair connects to get the first-year acclimated to campus and settled in their program of study. The mentor/mentee pair meet throughout the semester and attend events that are both academic and social in nature. Students engaged in their campus community are more likely to succeed. Examples of events students can attend include: BroncoBash, Miller Movie events, Academic Resource Center seminars, and Bronco Study Zone study sessions.

In addition, an alumni mentor from the same (or a similar) program of study will mentor each student pair. The alumni mentor will provide information about their professional experiences while building a relationship. The alumni mentor will have at least 3 contacts with their student pair during each semester. A large portion of what this program is offering is built upon the relationship with alumni. Our program participants gain insight into their field of study and create a connection to get them on their chosen path. By the end of the year, we hope to have students with positive WMU experiences and networking skills.

At the end of the year, each group will be invited to attend a networking banquet hosted by the college to celebrate successes from the year.

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THELOGISTICS

O

NE Before the semester begins, each group member will receive a Pair Profile. This will contain information regarding the mentee,

upper level mentor, and alumni mentor.

OWT Either before or

just after the fall semester begins, each group member will make contact

with one another.

TH

REE As the fall semester progresses, each group will begin to meet and make connections.

FO

UR Throughout the fall semester, you will establish contacts within the group.

F

IVE At the conclusion of the fall semester,

you and your Pair Group will attend a SEED social event.

SIX During the spring semester each student will continue to establish connections with group members.

S

EVEN At the conclusion of the spring semester, each

student will attend an End of the Year banquet with your group to celebrate with all SEED

participants.

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PROGRAM EVENTSEach of our student pairs will continue our tradition of success by assisting in immersion to the college culture, engaging in next steps, encouraging involvement, and investing in academic success. In order to hit these benchmarks, our pairs will attend a combination of programs and events designed for student success.

TYPE OF EVENT HOW THE EVENT BENEFITS YOU SAMPLE OF EVENTS BENEFITS

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CCES

SIN

VEST

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SUCC

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INVE

ST IN

SU

CCES

SIN

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SUCC

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Academic Event (1)

College Culture Event (1)

Professional Event (1)

Social/Cultural Event (2)

Pairs attend events that further their academic success using available

on-campus resources.

Students attend a seminar or workshop or event sponsored by the College or an RSO affiliated with the

College.

Students attend on-campus events related to their interest in their field of study. This includes networking

opportunities and all things related to career advancement.

Students attend events sponsored by the University (i.e., CAB) or any Registered

Student Organizations (RSOs) to connect to the student body at large.

Academic Resource Center seminars, Supplemental

Instruction, tutoring, Bronco Study Zone, lecture series, etc.

Student success events, RSO events, college-affiliated lecture

series, etc.

Career fairs, College events related to program of study, networking events, graduate

school open-houses, etc.

Miller movies, concerts, comedy shows, speakers, cultural/

internationally focused events, etc.

By the end of a semester, pair groups will have attended 5 events together. The mentor will be responsible for recording the attended events in our online database. Each event attended will give the pair a number of points. At the end of each semester the points will be tallied and the mentor/mentee will be eligible for prizes offered to our participating students. Pairs that attend more than five events will have their extra efforts taken into account. Please find links necessary to documentation in the “Documentation” section.

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WHAT ISA MENTOR?A mentor is someone who teaches or gives help and advice based on past experiences. Through an established relationship, a mentor can help their mentee (the person seeking the experience of the mentor) positively move forward.

Many people feel that being a mentor requires special skills, but mentors are simply people who have the qualities of good role models. A good mentor:

Leads by and sets a good example.

Has experience and is willing to share skills, knowledge, and expertise.

Gives advice based on experience.

Helps you learn what they don’t teach you in school, such as the practical aspects or realities of your career/major.

Desires to help others succeed.

Has a positive attitude.

Has time and energy to devote to mentoring.

Is knowledgeable.

Communicates hope and optimism.

Provides guidance and constructive feedback.

Helps to clarify and meet goals.

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MENTOR TRAITS MENTOR ABILITIES

Mentors listen.

Mentors guide.

Mentors are practical.

Mentors educate.

Mentors provide insight.

Mentors are accessible.

Mentors criticize constructively.

Mentors are supportive.

Mentors are specific.

Mentors care.

Mentors succeed.

Mentors are admirable.

They maintain eye contact and give mentees their full attention.

Mentors help their mentees find direction.

They give insights about keeping on task and setting goals and priorities.

Mentors educate about life and their own careers.

Mentors use their personal experience to help their mentees prevent mistakes and learn from good decisions.

Mentors are available as a resource and a sounding board.

Mentors identify areas for improvement, focusing on the mentee’s behavior, never his/her character.

No matter how painful the mentee’s experience, mentors continuously encourage them to learn and improve.

Mentors give specific advice on what was done well or could be corrected, what was achieved and the benefits of various actions.

Mentors care about their mentees’ progress in school and career planning, as well as their personal development.

Mentors are successful themselves and also foster success in others.

Mentors are usually well respected in their organizations and in their community.

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FIRST-YEAR MENTEES

How to get the most out of your upper level mentor:

Spend quality time with your mentor. Ask questions that only another student can answer. Which courses are the most challenging.Be open to sharing information about yourselfBe willing to explore with them. Go with them to new places and events.Share experiences with them.Set goals and have your mentor hold you accountable.Learn from good choices they have made.Learn from their mistakes.Celebrate your successes with them.

How to get the most out of your alumni level mentor:

Ask questions that only they can answer (either as an alumni or a professional). Discuss beneficial activities to do in college for that career. Examples: MODA, internship, study abroad, etc.Know job-related information. Interview skills or needs (i.e., portfolios) Actual skills needed for jobAsk them what they wish they would have known during their first-year.Create professional networks and expand on your networking abilities.Ask them what classes they think benefited them the most.

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ALUMNI MENTORS

How to support your upper-level mentor:

Build a relationship of communication. Be available to answer questions. Treat them like a peer.Share with your mentee the things you wish you had known as an upper-level student-Be available to share an experience, i.e. job shadowing, internshipBe open to sharing information about yourself.Celebrate their successesBe flexible.Discuss both of your needs and expectations.Discuss both of your goals and objectives for the relationship.Establish a schedule for future meetings (the minimum).

How to support your first-year mentee:

Be available to answer their questions. Share what you wished you would have known as a first-year. Practice job interview questions with them.Be available to share an experience, i.e. job shadowing or an event.Become a professional resource and network member for them.

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UPPER-LEVEL MENTORSHow to support your mentee:

Spend quality time with your mentor. Build a relationship of communication.Answer questions that only another student can answer.Share with your mentee the things you wish you had known as a first-year.Let them come to visit an upper-level class.Show them around campus.Go with them to visit a professor. It will make them less nervous. It will teach them networking.Be open to sharing information about yourself.Hold your mentee accountable to their goals.Celebrate their successes.

How to get the most out of your alumni mentor:

Our alumni mentors are career-established professionals who are volunteering their time to help future Bronco alumni start and finish on the right path. To get the most out of them, it may be helpful to be the prime mover for your group. Your group should connect by setting up an initial meeting.

In your initial meeting:

Discuss both of your expectations and needs. Discuss both of your goals and objectives for the relationship.Discuss what is doable and what is not (such as in-person meetings or weekly meetings).Establish a schedule for future meetings (the minimum).

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Questions to ask your alumni mentor:

About their profession:

What is a typical day on the job?What percentage of each day do you spend in various work activities?What are the most satisfying and the most frustrating parts of your work?How did you get to your current position?What are the future trends and developments that you see affecting careers in your field?How did you prepare for this occupation?What preparations should I make to enter in the field?If you could start over again in launching your career, what steps would you take?What courses do you recommend taking for this occupation?

About their lifestyle:

What hours do you normally work?Is overtime common?Do you travel through your job?What professional organization(s) are you a part of?What are the pressures you face?How does this occupation affect your private life?What is expected of you outside of working hours?Is there a formal mentor program set up in your workplace?Who was/is your mentor?

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SAFETY PRECAUTIONSPlease note: anytime a mentee says or does something that is uncomfortable, inappropriate, alarming, hostile, threatening or otherwise concerning, please contact the Student Success and Retention Officer of the College of Education and Human Development immediately. Mentees will also be instructed to inform the Coordinator of Program Services if they are subject to any of the above.

If for any reason you feel unsafe or that you are in a danger, immediately remove yourself and your mentee from the situation.

Immediately report any suspected or alleged instances of wrongdoing or misconduct or concerns about inappropriate service provisions and practices by any peer mentor to the program director. For emergencies, call 911. For non-emergencies, call Western Michigan University’s Department of Public Safety at (269) 387-5555.

There may be times when faculty, staff or students at Western Michigan University find themselves concerned about a student’s welfare or observe uncharacteristic behavioral changes. If you are unsure if a student’s behavior is cause for concern, please review how to recognize a student in distress at wmich.edu/studentaffairs/studentdistress.

You are encouraged to login to submit a concern using the form at the listed web address if a student:

WMU students may login to this form to reach out for assistance and support for themselves.

For more information, please visit the following website:wmich.edu/studentaffairs/concern

Exhibits erratic or sudden changes in classroom performance.Exhibits uncharacteristic behavioral, mood, attitude or appearance changes.Is uncharacteristically inattentive, unresponsive, angry, argumentative, or aggressive.Discloses mental health concerns and indicates a need for assistance.

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DOCUMENTATIONThe following documentation can be found at wmich.edu/education/academics/student-success.com:

Mentor application survey.Mentor/mentee event attendance tracking database.Mentor/mentee point sheet.Program Evaluation Form.Event sign-in database.Event dates.

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SPECIAL THANKSThe College of Education and Human Development at Western Michigan University would like to thank the following offices and organizations:

Disability Services for StudentsLGBTQ Mentoring ProgramMentoring for SuccessSocio-Cultural Holistic Learning and Retention (SCHOLAR) Program, Ferris State UniversityTRiO Future Educator Success Program

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College of Education and Human Development (CEHD)Student Success and Retention Office

Western Michigan University2301 Sangren Hall

Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5229OFFICE: (269) 387-2959 CELL: (269) 220-0464

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The SEED Mentoring program is a united effort between the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) and the Office of Development and Alumni Relations at Western Michigan University. The program is funded in large part by CEHD with generous contributions from Alumni Relations and CEHD alumni.