How To Become a Successful Mentor Peer Mentor Pilot Program Training/Orientation Workshop Asian American Center Northern Illinois University

Introduction  Topics for Discussion  The mission and goals of the mentoring program  Responsibilities and expectations of mentors  Ethics for mentoring  Description of the mentor binder

Agenda  Icebreaker Activity  Overview of Program  Mentoring Components  Pre-Assessment  Photos

Overview Through this training, we expect to provide the mentor with guidance in becoming a great leader. In return, the mentor will be able to provide guidance and attention to new students as they make their transition from high school to college.

Vocabulary Who is a Mentor ?  A Mentor is someone who has been there, done that, learned from the experience, and is willing to share.  A Mentor is someone who helps other people (protégés) to reach their full potential.  The emphasis is always on enabling and empowering protégés to do things for themselves.

Qualities of a Mentor  A good listener  Genuinely interested  Reliable  Responsible  Responsive  A guide  A trusted friend

Benefits of Mentoring  Mentoring is an inspiring, creative, and motivating experience, which aids the personal development of both the mentor and protégé.  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 Mentor  Available - Commits to spending time with protégé  Patient - Respects the differences between himself/herself and the protégé  Knowledgeable - Familiar with the resources available on campus and how the protégé can benefit from them  Confidant - Reliable, self-assured, and conscientious when interacting with the protégé.  A Good Listener - Speaks less, listens more, and carefully considers the needs of the protégé.  Inspiration - Sees the possibilities by bringing to life the qualities we aspire for ourselves

Vocabulary Who is a Protégé ?  A Protégé is a new first-year or transfer student who decides to obtain extra personal and academic assistance from an experienced upper-class student.  Sometimes new students find it helpful to sit down and talk to someone who has been down the same path and can share their successes and struggles.

Benefits of having a Mentor  Peer support  Academic support  Leadership opportunities  Guidance  Interaction with new people  Social opportunities  Personal growth & development

Objectives of Mentoring  To help improve a student’s self-esteem and confidence  To provide opportunities to develop positive relationships  To reduce the drop-out rate and increase retention in school  To create an avenue for allowing people in the community or in the school to further assist in education  To recognize the potential in all students  To allow students to look beyond their present condition and envision a promising future

Responsibilities and Expectations  Mentors will be expected to attend monthly meetings  Mentors must maintain weekly communication with their assigned protégé.  Mentors must attend mentoring program activities and invite their protégés to attend as well.

Confidentiality  Care needs to be taken to observe the rights of other students’ privacy  A mentor is cautious about when and where he/she gains peer or supervisory support  A mentor does not talk to other students about the progress of his/her protégé without the protégé’s permission.  A mentor understands the importance of his/her role with the protégé and therefore respects the boundaries of confidentiality.

Ethics for Mentoring  If a student talks about grades, what do you do with that information ?  What would you do if you knew a student was cheating ?  What would you do if a student was breaking the law ?

Competency  You are a student who knows what it’s like to face similar frustrations and personal growth that comes from the college experience. You have knowledge of programs and services at NIU. When appropriate, refer your protégé to these services.  However, do not try to answer questions to which you do not know the answers.  Don’t be afraid to say “ I don’t know, but I’ll get back to you with that information.”

Consultation and Supervision  When you have questions or concerns about your protégé or about your performance, consult with the Peer Mentor Program coordinator.  It is a good idea to take notes on your protégé, so you will remember concerns you need to discuss at upcoming mentor meetings.  If you are ever in doubt as to what to do in a particular situation, you should always contact the peer mentor program coordinator.

Description of Mentor Binder  Mentor and Protégé Information  Mentor/Protégé Contract  Weekly Activity / Communication Report  Record of General Communication  Additional Resources

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