• Each Fall semester, a mentee will be matched with a new mentor (peer or professional). If you connected very well with someone you previously partnered with, you may continue to maintain that relationship.
• Mentees will be matched with one peer or professional mentor.
• Peer mentors will only be matched with one mentee, unless an additional mentee is requested.
• Professional mentors will be matched with 3-5 mentees.
• Matching e-mails will be sent out approximately 4-6 weeks after the start of Fall semester.
• Mentors are volunteer only and are not paid.
• New applicants throughout the year will be matched as availability allows.
• If a match is not working out, please contact the program coordinator(s) to request a new match.

As a participant in this mentoring program, you're expected to actively develop and demonstrate the following competencies. These skills are essential to success in academic, workplace, and collaborative environments - especially within the computing field.

• Communicate professionally by engaging in respectful, timely, and clear interactions with your mentor.
• Build and maintain a positive mentoring relationship through consistent effort, openness, and professionalism.
• Use the mentoring experience as a platform to strengthen your communication, interpersonal, and self-management skills.
• Participate actively in mentoring activities, including those involving other mentees and program events.
• Respond promptly to requests for contact or information from program coordinators.
• Take ownership of your growth by assuming responsibility for your academic, professional, and personal development.
• Celebrate progress and share concerns with your mentor to foster transparency and trust.
• Receive and apply constructive feedback with a growth mindset and willingness to improve.
• Set meaningful goals and take measurable steps toward achieving them.
• Utilize campus resources and support services to enhance your learning and development.

Your engagement in these expectations will help you make the most of your mentoring experience and prepare you for success in the computing profession.

As a peer mentor, you play a vital role in supporting the growth and success of your mentee. To foster a meaningful and productive mentoring relationship, you are expected to:

• Build rapport by engaging in regular, authentic conversations with your mentee.
• Maintain a positive and proactive attitude, especially when navigating unfamiliar challenges.
• Provide guidance and encouragement to help your mentee feel supported and empowered.
• Demonstrate professionalism by being courteous, respectful, and mindful of personal boundaries.
• Initiate weekly check-ins through phone calls, texts, online chats, or in-person meetings.
• Respond promptly to messages and outreach from your mentee.
• Meet regularly to discuss academic, personal, or professional challenges and explore strategies for overcoming them.
• Support goal-setting by helping your mentee identify, refine, and pursue meaningful objectives.
• Promote accountability by encouraging follow-through and celebrating progress.

Your commitment to these principles will help create a mentoring environment rooted in trust, growth, and mutual respect.

As a professional mentor, your experience and perspective are invaluable to students navigating their academic and career journeys. While your availability may be limited due to professional commitments, your engagement in the mentoring relationship is deeply appreciated and impactful. You are expected to:

• Connect with your mentee at least twice per semester, ideally through informal meetings such as coffee chats or virtual check-ins.
• Communicate changes in availability when possible, to help mentees manage expectations and maintain consistent engagement.
• Maintain a positive and professional attitude, modeling the behaviors and mindset expected in the workplace.
• Model professional behavior and workplace norms, helping mentees understand expectations in real-world environments (e.g., communication etiquette, time management, networking)
• Encourage growth by supporting your mentee in setting goals, stepping outside their comfort zone, learning new skills, and advocating for themselves.
• Share career insights and experiences, including lessons learned, industry trends, and pathways into computing-related roles. Offer this guidance and insight based on your personal experience and professional knowledge.
• Support mentee confidence-building by affirming strengths, encouraging reflection, and celebrating progress.
• Respect the mentee's academic and personal journey, offering guidance without judgement and recognizing that each student's path may look different.
• Refer mentees to appropriate university and career resources when additional support is needed.

Your role is not to have all the answers, but to be a thoughtful guide and sounding board. Your mentorship helps students build confidence, expand their networks, and prepare for life beyond the classroom.

If you are matched with a professional mentor, please be aware that they may not be able to respond to you very quickly due to professional and personal obligations. We recommend that you give them at least 1 week to respond to you before reaching out to us about the situation.

You may send an email to [email protected] to discuss how to proceed.