Best Practices for Successful Engagement

Steps to success:

1. Set expectations: Support, yet challenge, your mentees
Mentors are asked to help manage student expectations and to communicate their own expectations about how they will interact with the student. Mentors are encouraged to  evaluate their mentee's level of knowledge, skill, and ability and find ways to educate, stimulate, and challenge the mentee to find ways to develop the skills they will need to be successful.

2. Serve as a role model
A mentee can learn a lot from their mentor simply by observing how their mentor communicates in any particular situation. Mentors often identify experiences/situations in which their mentees may become involved and learn new things.

3. Develop the Mentor/Mentee relationship
A mentoring relationship can be a personal one, which is often important to the mentee. As a mentor, get to know your student's academic, research, professional, and personal goals, so you can help them in a way that meets their personal best interest. Asking your mentee open-ended questions will help you as a mentor to identify their needs, values, and passions. It is also a great way to encourage your mentee to think through situations themselves.

4. Share your experiences and insights
Sometimes your role as a mentor can make you seem intimidating to a student, which may discourage mentees from speaking openly about their problems or asking questions that they fear will seem silly. Mentors can humanize themselves through sharing stories about their own academic and professional journey. Be open to sharing your mistakes and failures too as it will help your mentee be aware that challenges will arise, and the way you dealt with the situation might also help them gain insight about how to build resilience.

5. Have Fun!
We have a wonderful group of students who are excited to get to know and learn from you. We hope you enjoy the experience.