What are the goals of the Alumni Mentoring Program?
- To provide an opportunity for students to explore career paths and to build their professional network while gaining interpersonal and leadership skills.
- To provide an opportunity for alumni to become more engaged with the campus by sharing their knowledge and experience with students and supporting the next generation of alumni.
Who is eligible for the program?
This program is intended for Penn State DuBois students in their first or second year – though juniors and seniors are welcome to apply. Alumni with at least five years of professional experience are eligible to apply to become a mentor.
What is my role as a mentor?
Mentors serve as role models by providing advice and guidance and sharing personal experiences. Mentors are approachable and willing to give constructive feedback to students to help identify goals, develop strategies, and instill confidence.
The purpose of each mentoring relationship is professional development. It takes time to establish an effective working relationship, and in spending that time with one another, you may want to talk about more than professional development (hobbies, sports, politics, family, etc.) We encourage this—but only if both parties want to. Enjoy getting to know a fellow Penn Stater and learn from each other while focusing on developing career plans and professional skills.
How is the program structured and what is the time commitment?
The formal program kicks off at the start of fall semester and lasts through one academic year. Students and alumni are encouraged to apply in the spring or summer for the following academic year to maximize their experience. If they choose to, pairs can continue their relationship beyond the school year, outside of the formal program.
Each pair determines the time commitment and frequency of interactions based on established goals and expectations. It is important that pairs engage in consistent communication (about once a month is recommended).
The mentoring partnership is intended to last for the academic year. We will do our best to match students with alumni based on the information provided in the application, but sometimes two people just do not “click” in their mentoring relationship. Please note that this is not considered a failure on either part, and that participants should feel comfortable contacting program staff to discuss the situation and bring closure to the relationship, if needed.
How are the matches made?
The program staff selects the matches based on answers provided in the mentor and student applications. Similarities in a mentor's career expertise and a student's industry interests are the top criteria taken into consideration. Not all criteria can be matched perfectly, so we ask students and alumni to keep an open mind.
Alumni Mentoring Program Coordinator |
| Julie Frank |
| Alumni Relations Office |
|
206H DEF Building |
| (814) 375-4775 |
| [email protected] |