For_mentees

Being a mentee is a valuable opportunity in one’s life where a sense of direction, confidence and knowledge can be obtained through a person who serves as a role model, coach, guide, sponsor, friend, and advisor. Whether faculty or staff, if a UD woman wants to gain access to a greater network, develop skills, build self-confidence, enhance her professional career or have an opportunity to grow with guidance, mentoring can help her achieve it.

Remember, mentoring not only helps the mentee achieve her goals, but it is also a great experience. Volunteering as a mentee requires a significant commitment of time and energy, and it involves a mentor’s time too. But it is often a new and enriching experience for both, with the added benefit of gaining something difficult to achieve in other ways.

If you wish to be a mentee, please complete the Mentee Application. This invitation is open to UD women only staff and faculty at all levels.

Mentors and mentees typically enter their relationships with assumed expectations of each other. Expectations that aren’t met or even discussed can lead to irritation and disappointment. In many cases, these expectations are similar or the same. A mentoring relationship is a partnership, with both people showing respect and support for each other. Reasonable Expectations for Mentors and Mentees ,a white paper from www.MediaPro.com which talks about setting clear and responsible expectations for mentoring relationships.

The UD Women’s Center is Mentoring Program is designed to involve mentors and mentees in formal mentoring relationships. It provides a basic structure for these relationships and a support system for the participants involved. There are no guidelines set as to when and how many times each mentor or mentee dyad expected to meet; this is left to the discretion of the participants depending on their needs and objectives.

The program runs from October to May every year. Application forms are made available for both mentors and mentees via this website and through the Women's Center. An annual application deadline will be posted and applications will be accepted electronically as well as via campus mail.

Following acceptance into program, mentees are paired with mentors who can best help them fulfill their goals. Mentors are contacted first and informed of the pairing. If there is a conflict of interest, the pairing is re-evaluated. If not, the mentees are then informed of whom they have been paired with and encouraged to make contact prior to the initial training, which is scheduled for approximately a week later. Also, the mentee
perceives a conflict, the pairing is re-evaluated.

An initial training session is held for all mentors and mentees to help them develop goals for their mentoring relationships. Additionally, atleast two meetings and a closing dinner are held during the year to give mentors/mentees an opportunity to interact as a group. Mentors and mentees are also asked to complete progress surveys midway through and at the end of the program. These surveys examine the interactions between mentors and mentees and how the relationships are progressing, as well as provide mentors/mentees an opportunity to make suggestions to improve the program.

If you want to know more about being a mentor, please contact Stacy Ingraham, Women’s Center Mentoring Program Coordinator, at ingrahsk@notes.udayton.edu or at (937) 229-5334.