Mentorship
The EPIC program aims to promote community engagement and inclusion through dedicated activities in a respectful and supportive environment. It places a particular emphasis on its Mentorship program, recognizing the significant positive impact of mentorship on the academic success of underrepresented students. EPIC facilitates connections between freshmen and sophomores with upper-division students, graduate students, and faculty to cultivate strong mentorship relationships.
Mentor Goals
EPIC mentors will help their mentees make connections, build community, set themselves up for academic success and prepare for their STEM careers by helping them:
- Develop a sense of belonging
- Identify and use campus resources
- Understand university policies and procedures
- Set and achieve short and long term goals
- Engage in purposeful academic and extra-curricular activities
Mentee Goals
EPIC mentees will develop new connections, contribute to building a sense of community, set themselves up for academic success and prepare themselves for their future careers by:
- Willing to identify and use campus resources
- Following university policies and procedures
- Setting and working towards short and long term goals
- Engaging in purposeful academic and extra-curricular activities
Please Email us for mentor’s and mentee’s manual.
Mentorship Best Practices
Hold a Kickoff Meeting Accordion Closed
Lay the groundwork for the mentoring relationship. How often you’ll meet, how long the meetings will last for and their structure. Also make it clear what’s discussed remains confidential.
Set Goals Accordion Closed
Establish goals, preferably during the kickoff meeting. Create 2-5 things that you are looking to achieve.
Meet Regularly Accordion Closed
This will provide the structure necessary to ensure you get the assistance you need to move forward with your goals, even if you only meet once per month by phone.
Prepare for Meetings Accordion Closed
Have questions ready. Be prepared to discuss actions and progress since your last meeting.
Ask Open-Ended Questions Accordion Closed
Open ended questions are questions that can’t be answered with a simple yes or no. This is important to be able to extract important information.
Take Notes Between Meetings Accordion Closed
As you are going through your day, jot down questions or challenges that arise so that when you meet, you’ll have pertinent things to ask.
Be Proactive Accordion Closed
You don’t have to wait for your mentor to act on something, or ask something. If you simply sit back, you’re going to fall behind.