CornellUniversity Cornell Alumni-Student Mentoring Program

StudentHandbook

InpreparingthisHandbookwehaveinplacescalleduponsimilarmentoringguides fromsisterinstitutions.Weparticularlyacknowledgeusingmaterialfromthe StudentAlumniMentorProgram(SAMP)Handbook,CaliforniaAlumni AssociationatUCBerkeleyandtheGuidelinesforSuccessfulMentoring,Mentoring ProgramforWomeninScienceandEngineeringatIowaStateUniversity.

TableofContents MentoringandSuccessatCornell Mentor/StudentRelationships:ExpectationsandGuidelines HowtoMakeMentoringWorkForYou Resources ContactInformation 4 5 7 9 10

Congratulations,youvemadeit!YouarenowamemberoftheCornellFamily.We wishyouwell.Youreabouttoenteranewacademicworld,butalsoonethat encompassesthebestofsocial,spiritual,andcommunitylife.Youralumnimentorwill workwithyoutohelpyoufindyourbestfitinyournewlifeatCornell,sothatyoucan realizeyourdreams.YouarewelcometostopbytheProgramOfficein260Caldwell Hallanyweekdaybetween9:00a.m.4:30p.m.;noappointmentneeded.Feelfreeto considerourofficeahomeawayfromhome.

MentoringandSuccessatCornell
IthacaOdyssey MentoringbeganinIthacathatis,intheIthacaofancientGreece.WhenOdysseus, KingofIthaca,wentofftofighttheTrojanWarshelefthissonTelemachusinthecare ofhiswiseandexperiencedfriendMentor.Mentorsresponsibilitywastoguideand teachtheyoungprinceandtoshapethefuturekingscharacterandvaluesthrough leadingbyexample. HomersepicTheOdysseytellsusthatittookOdysseustwentyyearstoreturnto ancientIthaca.YouwillbewithusinmodernIthacaforamuchshortertimebutwe hopethismentoringinitiativehelpsyouenjoythoseyears.Wewelcomeyoutothe CornellAlumniStudentMentoringProgram. WhatisanAlumniMentor? Sheorheisaguide,afriend,andaresourcewhosuccessfullynavigatedCornellsins andouts,whorosetothechallengesandreapedtherewardsofgraduatingfromanIvy Leagueuniversity.AlumnimentorsusetheirCornelleducationandexperiencetohelp pavethewaytosuccessatCornellandbeyondforincomingstudents,andderive satisfactionfromhelpingotherssucceed. Alumnimentorswanttomaintaintiestotheiralmamater.Theyenjoythepersonal satisfactionofcontributingtoastudentsgrowthandsuccess.Theyalsoenjoythe stimulationandchallengeofrelatingtotodaysCornellstudents.Theirroleasan alumnimentoristoinspire,inform,guide,encourage,andsupportstudents,andto contributetoastudentspersonalandacademicdevelopment. Mentorsplaycontradictoryrolesattimesofferingfriendshipandsupport,atother timesposingtoughchallengesandsharingcriticalinsights.Tobeproductive,there mustbeareciprocal,trustingrelationshipbetweenmentorandstudent.This relationshiptakestimetobuild,butatitsbest,itisapowerfulpersonalrelationship withastrongpotentialtopositivelyinfluencestudentattitudesandbehavior. Incomingstudentsneedseveralthingsinadditiontotheirintellectinordertosucceed: adream(goal,vision,plan),determination(ambition,perseverance,ability),and someonewhobelievesinthemandcanhelpshapetheirdreamintoreality.Thats whereamentorcancomein.

Mentor/StudentRelationships:ExpectationsandGuidelines
HowWillIBeMatchedwithaMentor? Studentswillusuallybematchedwithalumnifromthesamegeographicarea.In additiontolocale,otherfactorssuchasgender,courseofstudy,ethnicity,andcareer fieldwillbeconsideredinmakingthematch.Participatingstudentsandalumniwillbe askedtonotetheimportancetothemofrace,gender,andcareerfieldintheirmentor assignment.Theprogramstaffwilltrytomatchthosepreferences.Eitherpersoncan requestanewmatchbutweencouragebothtogivetherelationshiptimetomature, perhapssixmonths,beforerequestingachange. SoifIamapremedstudent,Icanexpecttobematchedwithadoctorfrommy hometownarea? Notquite.Studentsarefirstmatchedwithalumnifromthesamegeographicarea. Whilewetrytomatchstudentswithmentorsaccordingtocareerfieldbecauseit providessomecommonground,webelievementorshavemuchmoretoofferthan careeradvice.Althoughamentormayhaveadifferentundergraduatecourseofstudy, mentorsoftenhaveothersimilarinterestswiththeirstudents.Infact,severalalumni andstudentswhoareverysatisfiedwiththeirmentoringrelationshipshavelittlein commonwhenitcomestocareerinterest.Instead,thefocusoftherelationshipisfor thementortohelpthestudentlearnhowtouseCornellsresourcesandforthestudent togainadviceonallaspectsofcollegelife. WhatshouldIdoifIthinkIwillneedadvicethatisspecifictomycareerinterest? CanIasktohaveanewmentor? ThegreatthingaboutknowingoneCornellalumnus/aisthathe/shehasseveralCornell friends,someofwhommayshareyourcareerinterest.Remember,thegoalofthis programistoformanongoingrelationshipwithamentorwhocanadviseyouonall aspectsofcollegelife.Withthatsaid,sincementorsalsobelongtoprofessionaland alumninetworks,eveniftheydonotshareyourcareerinterest,theymightbeableto recommendsomeonewhodoesandwhocangivemorespecificadvice. Howlongdoesittaketobematchedwithamentor? Wetrytomatchstudentswithinonemonthofreceivinganapplication.Ifyouhavenot heardfromusafteronemonth,pleasecontactus.Speakingwithyouoftengivesusa betterideaofwhatyourneedsareandhowtogoaboutmatchingyouwithamentor.

 OnceIammatched,whenwillImeetmymentor? Ifyouhaveappliedduringthelatespringorsummer,yourmentorshould arrangeaninpersonmeetingwithyoubeforeyouarriveoncampus.Ifyou applyduringanotherpointintheacademicyear,youmayhavetowaittomeet yourmentorduringfall,winter,orspringbreak. Ivejustarrivedoncampus.Iamsooverwhelmedbyallthesenewresponsibilities.I dontthinkIhavetimeforamentoranymore.WhatshouldIdo? Thoughhavingamentorisatimecommitment,theexperienceismeanttohelpyou copewithadjustingtoCornell,nottobeanaddedburden.However,ifyoufeelvery stronglyaboutnotbeingabletofullycommittothisprogram,weaskthatyou(a)notify ussothatwecanwithdrawyoufromtheprogramand(b)notifyyourmentorsothat he/shewillknownottoexpectfurthercorrespondencefromyou.Ignoringyour mentorsattemptstoreachouttoyouisnottheresponsiblewaytohandlethissituation.

HowtoMakeMentoringWorkForYou
StudentResponsibilities:

Takeresponsibilityforyourowngrowthandsuccessbybeingreliableincontacting yourmentorregularly Mentor/studentrelationshipsworkbestwhenthestudentclearlydefineshis/her expectationsfortherelationshipandtakestheinitiativetoreachouttothementor.The mentorhasalreadyofferedtobeavailabletoyoubysigningupfortheprogram.But he/shecannotknowhowbesttohelpyouunlessyouarevocalaboutit.Itisparamount thatyoubeconsistentinreachingouttoyourmentor,andlettinghim/herknowwhat youwanttogainfromtheexperience.Alumniarebusypeoplewhohavegenerously volunteeredtheirtimetojointhisprogram.Ifyouarenotresponsibleabout communicatingwithyourmentoronaregularbasis,youarenottakingadvantageof thementoringprogram. Maintainasincereinterestindevelopingapersonalrelationshipwithyourmentor Youshouldnotbecontactingyourmentoronlywhenyouneedhelp.Thoughhe/she willbehappytoassistyouinanywaypossible,yourmentoralsowantsyoutodevelop agenuinerelationshipwithyou. AttendCASMPevents Weprovideopportunitiesforstudentstomeetandinteractwithalumniandother studentsintheprogramonanongoingbasis.Pleasetakeadvantageofthese opportunities. Attendfallinterview&welcomesessionandprovidefeedback Wewouldliketomeetwithyouduringyourfirstsemestersothatwecangettoknow youandaddressanyissues/questionsyouhave.Sincethisprogramexiststoserve studentslikeyou,wealsovalueyourfeedbackandaskthatyoucompleteannual programsurveys.Inaddition,ifyouareunhappywithyourmentoringrelationship, youshouldletusknow.Wedonotknowthatyouneedhelpunlessyouaskforit. Communicatingwithyourmentor: WhatshouldIdowhenIfirstmeetmymentorandwhatshouldItalkabout? Theinitialcontactshouldbeaninformalone.Thisisatimetogettoknoweachother bysharingaboutsignificanteventsorpeopleineachotherslife,likesanddislikes,and generalinterests.Firstconversationtopicsshouldprovideaglimpseintoeachothers lives.Youshouldalsodiscussthebestmethod(s)ofcommunicationwitheachotherand

howoftenyouwillcommunicate.Attheendofthemeeting,arrangementsshouldbe madeforasecondmeeting.Thesecondmeetingisagoodtimetodiscussinmore detailwhateachpersonwantstogainfromtherelationship. WhatshouldIincludeinanemailtomymentorwhenIcontacthim/herforthe firsttime? PleasevisitourFAQsforstudentssectiononourwebsitewww.casmp.cornell.edu. Includedinthesectionaresampleemailstosendtomentors. HowoftenshouldIcontactmymentor? Rememberthatthemoreyouputintotherelationship,themoreyouwillgetbackfrom it.Werecommendthatyouhavecontactwithyourmentoraminimumofonetotwo timesamonth.Wehighlysuggestthatyouestablishascheduleforcommunicatingso thatyouandyourmentorwillknowwhentoexpecttohearfromeachother.Though thismayseemhighlyregimented,webelievethatithelpskeeptherelationshipgoing whenbothofyougetbusy. ThefirsttimeImetwithmymentor,wemetforcoffee.Whatotheractivitiesdoyou suggest? Socializewithothermentor/studentpairs AttendaneventthatisbeingsponsoredbyyourregionalCornellclub Volunteerafewhourstohelpanalumniorganizationoracommunityorganized event Introduceeachothertoyourfavoritemovies,concerts,festivals,sportingevents, artexhibits,andculturalevents

WhatifIamexperiencingcommunicationissueswithmymentor? Ifyouareexperiencinganyissuesrelatedtoyourmentorshipexperience,pleasestopby ourofficeat260CaldwellHalltospeakwithoneoftheCASMPstaffmembersormake anappointmenttospeakwithastaffmember.

Resources

Mentorsarenotmeanttoserveasasubstituteforprofessionalservicesthatareoffered attheuniversity.Cornellhasmanyresourcestosupportyou,suchastheCornell CaringCommunitywebsite:http://caringcommunity.cornell.edu/.Pleaserefertothe listofofficesandwebsitesbelowasneeded.Ifyouarenotsurewhichofficeorwebsite canbestassistyou,contactus.

CampusDepartmentsand Offices
CornellAlumniStudentMentoring Program AlumniAffairs&Development CareerServices CornellPolice CounselingandPsychologicalServices HousingOffice InternalTransferDivision LearningStrategiesCenter OfficeoftheDeanofStudents OfficeofFinancialAidandStudent Employment OfficeofMinorityEducationalAffairs StudentActivitiesOffice StudentDisabilityServices

Phone number
6072550842 6072552390 6072555221 6072551111 6072555208 6072555368 6072556310 6072556310 6072556839 6072555145 6072553841 6072554169 6072544545

WebsiteAddress
www.casmp.cornell.edu www.alumni.cornell.edu www.career.cornell.edu www.cupolice.cornell.edu www.gannett.cornell.edu/CAPS Housing.cornell.edu www.sws.cornell.edu/ITD http://lsc.sas.cornell.edu www.dos.cornell.edu/dos Finaid.cornell.edu www.omea.cornell.edu www.activities.cornell.edu www.cit.cornell.edu/campus/sds

CornellSchoolsandColleges
CollegeofAgricultureandLifeSciences CounselingandAdvising CollegeofArchitectureArtandPlanning StudentServices CollegeofArtsandSciencesAdvising CollegeofEngineeringAdvising CollegeofHumanEcologyAdvisingand Counseling SchoolofHotelAdministrationStudent Services SchoolofIndustrialandLaborRelations Advising&Counseling WebResources Portal AcademicCalendar CornellCaringCommunity CornellChronicle CornellDailySun Cornell:FromAtoZ Courses,Classes,andExams CoursesofStudy

Phone Number
6072545386 6072553616 6072555004 6072557414 6072552532

WebsiteAddress
www.cals.cornell.edu/advising www.aap.cornell.edu/studentservices/ www.arts.cornell.edu/stuadv www.engineering.cornell.edu/student services/academicadvising/index.cfm www.human.cornell.edu/che/Academics/Undergra duate/ Student_Services/advising/index.cfm www.hotelschool.cornell.edu/students www.ilr.cornell.edu/studentservices/advising/ WebsiteAddress uportal.cornell.edu www.cornell.edu/academics/calendar/ http://caringcommunity.cornell.edu/ www.news.cornell.edu/ cornellsun.com/ admissions.cornell.edu/resources/az.cfm www.cornell.edu/academics/courses.cfm cuinfo.cornell.edu/Academic/Courses

6072558322 6072551515

ContactInformation
AliciaS.Torrey83,Director CandaceLeeChow03,AssistantDirector CornellAlumniStudentMentoringProgram OfficeofViceProvostforUndergraduateEducation 260CaldwellHall,Ithaca,NY148532602 Phone:6072550842 Fax:6072546450 Email:casmp@cornell.edu Website:www.casmp.cornell.edu

ThishandbookisaguidethatwillevolvewiththeCornellAlumniStudentMentoring Program.Wewelcomeyoursuggestionsforimprovingourwrittenmaterialsaswellas ourprogram.YourparticipationinthisprocesswillhelptheCornellAlumniStudent MentoringProgrambecomeabestpracticemodelforCornellandotheruniversities. RememberyouarealwayswelcometocomebytheCornellAlumniStudentMentoring ProgramOffice,260CaldwellHall,MondaythroughFridayfrom9:00a.m.4:30p.m.

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