Mentor Expectations

What is an Alumni Mentor?

She or he is a guide, a friend, a resource who successfully navigated Portland State University’s ins and outs – rose to the challenges and reaped the rewards of graduating from an excellent university. Alumni mentors use their PSU education and experience to help pave the way to success at PSU and beyond for students, and derive satisfaction from helping others succeed.

Your role as an alumni mentor is to listen without judgment, inspire, inform, guide, encourage, and support your student, and to contribute to the student’s personal and academic development. In this role you have an opportunity to put your energy, creativity, and vision to work in making an important difference in a PSU student’s life. Students need several things in addition to their intellect in order to succeed: a dream (goal, vision, plan), determination (ambition, perseverance, ability), and someone who believes in them and can help shape their dream into reality. That’s where you come in.

A Mentor Plays Several Roles, including:

    A Support who:
       * Encourages open dialogue starting with expectations with the mentoring agreement.
        * Builds the student’s self-esteem and cultural pride.
        * Listens to the needs of the mentee.

    A Motivator who:
       * Helps the student acquire information, and problem-solving
        * skills that will prove integral for success at PSU and beyond.
        * Expresses belief and confidence in the student’s abilities.
        * Encourages the student to try new things.

    A Resource who:
       * Teaches/advises on how to make professional contacts.
        * Introduces the student to new people, places, or ideas, such as professional associations,
        * websites, or journals.
        * Encourages the student to approach other people as potential resources.

    A Challenger who:
       * Encourages the student to develop and establish realistic and obtainable goals.
        * Challenges the student to do well and try things on his/her own.
        * Encourages the student to engage in increasingly complex activities.

The Mentoring Relationship

For mentoring to be successful there must be a reciprocal, comfortable relationship between mentor and student. A mentoring relationship takes time to build, but at its best, it is a powerful personal relationship with a strong potential to positively influence student attitudes and behavior. Both parties must work at the relationship to make it successful, such as keeping to the expectations of when and how to contact each other. A good mentoring relationship takes time, so do not expect it to happen overnight. Ideally, the mentoring relationship will be a mutually beneficial one; as the mentor learns from the mentee and the mentee from the mentor.

What is expected of the Mentee?

    * Make the first contact with your selected Mentor
    * Agree on expectations and goals with your Mentor
    * Commit to the agreement made with your Mentor
    * Establish rapport with your Mentor
    * Keep an open mind in conversations
    * Be appropriate in your requests of your Mentor
    * Get to know your Mentor on a personal level
    * Be prepared for each conversation.
    * Be receptive to suggestions and feedback.
    * Don’t be afraid to ask questions, “The only stupid question is the one not asked.”

What happens in the first conversation?

We ask the mentees to make the initial contact with the mentor. Making the first call or email can be very intimidating for a mentee. Following are some guidelines:
    * Talk over the AMP Mentoring Agreement, which helps establish expectations and goals. We ask the mentee to initiate a conversation about the agreement, but if the mentee does not do so, gently remind them of this critical first step in your relationship.
    * Make sure to decide on when and how you will communicate with each other - and commit to it.
    * Tell the mentee that you are excited about being their mentor! Sharing your enthusiasm will help reassure them that you are committed to making the relationship succeed.

As the Mentoring Relationship Grows
Three key building blocks for developing the mentor relationship are getting to know your mentee, being an active listener and maintaining regular contact.

Keys to Learning about your Mentee:

• In the early stage of your Mentor/Student relationship “lead by following” i.e. let the student take the lead and adjust your style to balance the student’s. If your student is intellectualizing, anxious or agitated, respond with calm reassurance and thoughtful questions. If your student is quiet, hesitant or distant, respond with lively reassurance and invitations to engage in discussion and activity. In time you will find a natural, comfortable balance in your conversations.

• Get to know your student's style of communication and problem solving. Be aware of your own style, as well.

Keys to Active Listening:

• Let your mentee get it all out. Example: "Go on, I'm listening."
• Talk less; avoid interrupting and offering quick solutions. Show concern in your voice and posture. Be patient; silence promotes thinking.
• Repeat what you think you heard and ask if that is what your student meant to say. Example: “Let’s see if I heard you correctly.”

Keys to Maintaining Contact:

• Stick to the decision you made with your mentee on how and when you will communicate with each other. Make sure to keep up your side of the bargain.
• If the mentee is unresponsive at any point in the relationship initiate contact. Some students will be overwhelmed by how much they are doing and forget to contact you. An email or a quick call reminding them that it is time for your next conversation will make a big difference.

Suggested Topics for Discussion

Sometimes it helps to have some ideas of what to talk about with your mentee. In many cases, your mentee will ask you questions that are in line with the following topics, but you may feel a need to have some ideas of what to discuss in one or more of your conversations. Following are some suggestions based on the feedback we have received from past mentors and mentees:

Career Conversations:
    * Discuss your educational background and the role of educational preparation in your field.
    * Share your knowledge of organizational types and cultures.
    * Talk through individual work values impact career choices.
    * Share about a current event or issue in your field.
    * Talk about your experience of “office politics.”

Resume/Interview Exercises:
    * Critique the mentee’s resume and cover letter.
    * Practice an informational interview.
    * Talk about what to expect from a job interview in your field.

Life Style:
    * Discuss the reality of the work hours in your field.
    * Share your experience of your transition from school to work.
    * Talk about how you have balanced personal life and career and what they expect.
    * Discuss how to maintain good health while in school and work.
    * Talk over how to manage stress and handle competition.

Skill Development for your Mentee:
    * Educate the student on cultivating professional relationships with colleagues.
    * Talk through how to develop effective communication.
    * Discuss what you have learned about making decisions.

Thank you!
We want to extend our deepest gratitude for your participation in the PSU Alumni Mentor Program. This program would not be possible without your commitment, enthusiasm to connect with PSU students and willingness to share your life and experience. We hope this will be an enriching and transformative experience for you.

Your Feedback
This is a guide that will evolve with the PSU Alumni Mentor Program. As we work together throughout this year, we welcome your suggestions for improving our written materials as well as our program. Your participation in this process will help the Alumni Mentor Program become a best practice model for Portland State and other universities.

Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.

PSU Alumni Mentor Program
Alumment@pdx.edu
Main Phone: (503) 725-9833
Toll Free Main Phone: 1-800-547-8887 Ext. 9833

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