How To Become a How To Become a

Successful Successful MentorMentorPeer Mentor Pilot Program 2005-2006 Peer Mentor Pilot Program 2005-2006

Training/Orientation WorkshopTraining/Orientation Workshop

Asian American CenterNorthern Illinois University

www.niu.edu/aac

IntroductionIntroductionTopics for DiscussionTopics for Discussion

The mission and goals of the mentoring The mission and goals of the mentoring programprogram

Responsibilities and expectations of Responsibilities and expectations of mentorsmentors

Ethics for mentoringEthics for mentoring

Description of the mentor binderDescription of the mentor binder

AgendaAgenda Icebreaker ActivityIcebreaker Activity

Overview of ProgramOverview of Program

Mentoring ComponentsMentoring Components

Pre-AssessmentPre-Assessment

PhotosPhotos

OverviewOverview

Through this training, we expect to provide the Through this training, we expect to provide the

mentor with guidance in becoming a great mentor with guidance in becoming a great

leader. In return, the mentor will be able to leader. In return, the mentor will be able to

provide guidance and attention to new students provide guidance and attention to new students

as they make their transition from high school to as they make their transition from high school to

college.college.

VocabularyVocabularyWho is a Mentor ?Who is a Mentor ?

A Mentor is someone who has been there, A Mentor is someone who has been there, done that, learned from the experience, and is done that, learned from the experience, and is willing to share.willing to share.

A Mentor is someone who helps other people A Mentor is someone who helps other people (protégés) to reach their full potential.(protégés) to reach their full potential.

The emphasis is always on enabling and The emphasis is always on enabling and empowering protégés to do things for themselves.empowering protégés to do things for themselves.

Qualities of a MentorQualities of a Mentor A good listenerA good listener Genuinely interestedGenuinely interested ReliableReliable ResponsibleResponsible ResponsiveResponsive A guideA guide A trusted friendA trusted friend

Benefits of Benefits of MentoringMentoring

Mentoring is an inspiring, creative, and Mentoring is an inspiring, creative, and

motivating experience, which aids the personal motivating experience, which aids the personal

development of both the mentor and protégé.development of both the mentor and protégé.

Being a mentor offers you the opportunity to:Being a mentor offers you the opportunity to:

• Help others achieve their goalsHelp others achieve their goals

• Develop coaching skillsDevelop coaching skills

• Acquire a new perspectiveAcquire a new perspective

• Develop skills in othersDevelop skills in others

Qualities of a Good Qualities of a Good MentorMentor

Available - Available - Commits to spending time with protégéCommits to spending time with protégé

Patient - Patient - Respects the differences between himself/herself and the Respects the differences between himself/herself and the protégéprotégé

Knowledgeable - FKnowledgeable - Familiar with the resources available on campus amiliar with the resources available on campus and how the protégé can benefit from themand how the protégé can benefit from them

Confidant - Confidant - Reliable, self-assured, and conscientious when Reliable, self-assured, and conscientious when interacting with the protégé.interacting with the protégé.

A Good Listener - A Good Listener - Speaks less, listens more, and carefully considers Speaks less, listens more, and carefully considers the needs of the protégé.the needs of the protégé.

Inspiration - Inspiration - Sees the possibilities by bringing to life the qualities Sees the possibilities by bringing to life the qualities we aspire for ourselveswe aspire for ourselves

VocabularyVocabularyWho is a Protégé ?Who is a Protégé ?

A Protégé is a new first-year or transfer A Protégé is a new first-year or transfer

student who decides to obtain extra personal student who decides to obtain extra personal

and academic assistance from an experienced and academic assistance from an experienced

upper-class student.upper-class student.

Sometimes new students find it helpful to sit Sometimes new students find it helpful to sit

down and talk to someone who has been down down and talk to someone who has been down

the same path and can share their successes the same path and can share their successes

and struggles.and struggles.

Benefits of having a Benefits of having a MentorMentor

Peer supportPeer support

Academic supportAcademic support

Leadership opportunitiesLeadership opportunities

GuidanceGuidance

Interaction with new peopleInteraction with new people

Social opportunitiesSocial opportunities

Personal growth & developmentPersonal growth & development

Objectives of Objectives of MentoringMentoring

To help improve a student’s self-esteem and To help improve a student’s self-esteem and

confidenceconfidence

To provide opportunities to develop positive To provide opportunities to develop positive

relationshipsrelationships

To reduce the drop-out rate and increase retention in To reduce the drop-out rate and increase retention in

schoolschool

To create an avenue for allowing people in the To create an avenue for allowing people in the

community or in the school to further assist in community or in the school to further assist in

educationeducation

To recognize the potential in all studentsTo recognize the potential in all students

To allow students to look beyond their present To allow students to look beyond their present

condition and envision a promising futurecondition and envision a promising future

Responsibilities and Responsibilities and ExpectationsExpectations

Mentors will be expected to attend monthly Mentors will be expected to attend monthly

meetingsmeetings

Mentors must maintain weekly Mentors must maintain weekly

communication with their assigned protégé.communication with their assigned protégé.

Mentors must attend mentoring program Mentors must attend mentoring program

activities and invite their protégés to attend activities and invite their protégés to attend

as well.as well.

ConfidentialityConfidentiality Care needs to be taken to observe the rights of other Care needs to be taken to observe the rights of other

students’ privacystudents’ privacy

A mentor is cautious about when and where he/she gains A mentor is cautious about when and where he/she gains

peer or supervisory support peer or supervisory support

A mentor does not talk to other students about the progress A mentor does not talk to other students about the progress

of his/her protégé without the protégé’s permission.of his/her protégé without the protégé’s permission.

A mentor understands the importance of his/her role with A mentor understands the importance of his/her role with

the protégé and therefore respects the boundaries of the protégé and therefore respects the boundaries of

confidentiality.confidentiality.

Ethics for MentoringEthics for Mentoring If a student talks about grades, what do you do If a student talks about grades, what do you do

with that information ?with that information ?

What would you do if you knew a student was What would you do if you knew a student was

cheating ?cheating ?

What would you do if a student was breaking What would you do if a student was breaking

the law ?the law ?

CompetencyCompetency You are a student who knows what it’s like to face You are a student who knows what it’s like to face

similar frustrations and personal growth that comes similar frustrations and personal growth that comes

from the college experience. You have knowledge of from the college experience. You have knowledge of

programs and services at NIU. When appropriate, refer programs and services at NIU. When appropriate, refer

your protégé to these services.your protégé to these services.

However, do not try to answer questions to which you However, do not try to answer questions to which you

do not know the answers.do not know the answers.

Don’t be afraid to say “ Don’t be afraid to say “ I don’t know, but I’ll get back I don’t know, but I’ll get back

to you with that informationto you with that information.”.”

Consultation and Consultation and SupervisionSupervision

When you have questions or concerns about When you have questions or concerns about

your protégé or about your performance, your protégé or about your performance,

consult with the Peer Mentor Program consult with the Peer Mentor Program

coordinator.coordinator.

It is a good idea to take notes on your protégé, It is a good idea to take notes on your protégé,

so you will remember concerns you need to so you will remember concerns you need to

discuss at upcoming mentor meetings.discuss at upcoming mentor meetings.

If you are ever in doubt as to what to do in a If you are ever in doubt as to what to do in a

particular situation, you should always contact particular situation, you should always contact

the peer mentor program coordinator.the peer mentor program coordinator.

Description of Description of Mentor BinderMentor Binder

Mentor and Protégé InformationMentor and Protégé Information

Mentor/Protégé ContractMentor/Protégé Contract

Weekly Activity / Communication Weekly Activity / Communication

ReportReport

Record of General CommunicationRecord of General Communication

Additional ResourcesAdditional Resources

Questions ??Questions ??Comments !!Comments !!