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CLA Mentor Program:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
for Students and Mentors
Click on the questions below for answers:
Q. What is the time commitment to be a mentor/mentee?
A.
Mentors and students are expected to communicate at least once per
month, starting with the program Kick-Off Event and ending
with the year-end Mentor Appreciation Reception. Mentors and
students can communicate via e-mail, phone or in person. Mentors and
students are encouraged to get together in person at least twice after
the Kick-Off Event.
Q. How do I get matched with a mentoring partner?
A.
Mentors and students are matched as best as possible according to their
mutual interests and experiences. The pool of available mentors and
students varies each year, and because CLA students and alumni are so
diverse in majors and career choices, CLA staff strive to find the best
common denominators linking potential mentors and students. Program
participants are asked to view their participation as a learning
experience and to keep an open mind while getting to know their
mentoring partner.
Q. Do I need to be an alumnus of CLA to be a mentor?
A.
Although the program is promoted heavily among CLA alumni, any person
with a liberal arts educational background or interest in liberal arts
topics who wants to provide guidance to a CLA student can be considered
for matching. Mentors and mentees are matched as best as possible based
on mutual interests.
Q. What year in college do I need to be to get matched with a mentor?
A.
Students seeking to be matched with a mentor should have completed at
least a year of college and have some ideas on potential careers or
educational options they wish to pursue after college.
Q.
If I am interested in pursuing a career in a journalism field, which
mentor program should I apply to: the CLA Alumni Mentor Program or the
School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC) Mentor Program?
A.
If a student is interested in pursuing a career in a journalism field
but has not been accepted into SJMC, he/she can only register for the
CLA Mentor Program. If a student has been officially accepted into
SJMC, he/she can register for either the CLA Mentor Program or the SJMC
Mentor Program. Please contact one of our staff for guidance.
Q. Can I participate in the CLA Mentor Program more than one year?
A.
Yes. Previous mentors and mentees are highly encouraged to continue
participating in the program from year to year. Staff will make every
effort to find an appropriate match for repeating participants each
year.
Q. Can I be matched with the same mentoring partner from one year to the next?
A.
Yes. It is possible to be matched with the same person in consecutive
years. When possible, we also encourage students and mentors to try out
different mentoring partnerships to expand their experience.
Q. Can I expect a mentor to place me in a job or internship?
A.
No. Mentors can often provide a reference for or help guide students in job
searches, but they are not expected to place students in jobs or
internships.
Q. What does it cost to participate in the CLA Mentor Program?
A. Nothing! There is no fee for participating in the CLA Mentor Program.
Q. Are mentors expected to help students with personal issues?
A.
No. Although some mentors and mentees develop great personal rapport, a
mentor is not expected to be his/her mentee's confidant or counselor.
Mentors are expected to provide guidance to students in their
educational and professional pursuits. Mentors and students are
encouraged to work together to establish an appropriate professional
relationship.
Q. What is expected of me if I participate in the CLA Mentor Program?
A.
Both students and mentors are expected to maintain an open mind in
finding commonalities with their mentoring partners. They are both
expected to attend the Kick-Off Event, communicate monthly,
and meet at least twice in person between October and April. Both are
expected to return phone calls and e-mail messages promptly and to be
considerate of each other's ideas, needs, and time constraints. Both
are expected to respect the other's privacy and to act in an
appropriate, professional manner. Students are expected to take the
initiative in contacting their mentors and to appreciate always that
mentors are volunteers, giving valuable time to students. (Students:
Don't expect mentors to chase you down. You will need to take the
initiative to stay in touch with your mentor throughout the year.)
Additionally, students are expected to ask questions of mentors and to
give mentors some insight into their goals beyond college. Mentors are
expected to provide guidance to students on educational and
professional pursuits and to help them link their liberal arts
education to the world beyond college. Mentors are expected to welcome
questions of students and to try to anticipate questions students may
not know to ask.
Q. What can I expect to gain by participating in the CLA Mentor Program?
A.
Students can expect to receive professional and educational advice and
support from mentors. Students can learn how to begin professional
networking and to explore questions and aspects of professional or
educational areas beyond their undergraduate experience. Mentors can
interact with the next wave of professionals in their fields and enjoy
a personal link back to the University. Mentors can contribute
positively to the education of CLA's talented students.
Q. Does every student who applies receive a mentor?
A.
Although most students receive a mentor, some do not. This may be due
to a lack of specificity, or simply a lack of appropriate mentor
matches. It's important to be thorough and detailed when filling out the CLA Mentor Program application form. If a mentor is not available, a student may also opt for a one-time
informational interview, or choose to defer their participation in the
mentor program.
Q. Do I have to attend an Orientation Session?
A.
Yes. Students who have not previously participated in the Mentor Program are
asked to attend a brief Orientation Session before the program Kick-Off
Event. These sessions help students understand what is expected of them
in the program, so that if they are matched with a mentor, they are
prepared to fulfill their part in the mentoring relationship. If no
orientation times accommodate a student's schedule, please contact the Mentor Program Assistant as soon as possible to schedule an alternate time.
Q. Can I participate in the CLA Mentor Program if I am planning to study abroad during the academic year?
The CLA Mentor Program is an October to April commitment for 1 academic year. Students must be on campus to participate in the program. If you are planning to study abroad we encourage you to apply for the mentor program the following year. In the meantime if we have a mentor who fits your interests, we may be able to help set up an informational interview for you.
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