Mentor: a wise advisor

E-mentoring is a student peer-support system to help new under-graduate students in the Faculty of Sciences to adapt to life at Staffordshire University.

“Mentoring gives me a real buzz and makes me feel unbelievably good that someone can learn and develop with my help.*”

Why become a mentor?
Think back to your first week at Staffordshire University. Did you feel bewildered and anxious on the first day? How did you fare in the first week? Did you worry about getting to the right lectures or finding the library? Did you struggle to make sense of all the handbooks and regulations that you received or to find a general option module to fit your timetable? Can you remember a lecturer, fellow student or anyone who helped you when you asked, or was there for a chat and showed they believed you could make it just when you needed it. Many mentors see mentoring as a way of repaying that debt. Do you want to try and reduce the amount of confusion and anxiety that first year students within your subject area experience when they start university?. If so, mentoring is one way you could have a real affect.

You are the expert
Throughout your time at University, you have, whether you realize it or not, built up an impressive amount of knowledge about the University, the local area, on how to "do" a degree, and maybe how not to "do" a degree. The only people that know what it is like to be a student at Staffordshire University now are people like you, current students. Being a mentor is the ideal chance for you to use what you have learned, and to give something back to the student community on a one-to-one basis. Mentors have the opportunity to share their knowledge, experience, insight and to build trust and offer support to less experienced students.

Key participants
Mentors are the key participants in this scheme. As second and third year students with inherent university expertise you are essential to the success of the project. You will be part of the e-mentoring team, and together, we will be creating a system that will be assessed by the faculty, and the university as a whole, for its effectiveness.

Invaluable skill
Today, mentoring is used widely in business. It is an invaluable life skill. When this project is finished, you will be an experienced mentor. It is an impressive point to highlight on your CV, and is applicable to whatever area in which you wish to work. All training is free, and, if you participate as an e-mentor for the whole academic year, you will be presented with a certificate of appreciation by the faculty.

What is a mentor?
* Someone who takes responsibility for a fellow student and takes an interest in his or her development and well-being.
* Someone who shares his or her knowledge, skills, techniques and experience.
* A mentor discusses new ideas, perspectives and standards, and explains the values and norms of the university.
* Someone who offers support with patience and enthusiasm.
* A mentor represents to the mentee evidence of what they can become.

What makes a good mentor?
* A good mentor has a commitment to work with mentees and help them determine and achieve goals.
* They show a willingness and ability to share knowledge and wisdom.
* They have adaptability, as a good mentor recognizes that different people have different needs and strengths.
* A good mentor is approachable, communicates openly and non-judgmentally.
* Good mentors are accessible.

Roles and responsibilities:
* Demonstrate a willingness to commit to the e-mentoring process.
* To read, sign and abide by the mentoring agreement.
* Assist in developing and monitoring of the e-mentoring scheme.
* Show willingness to email your mentees on a regular basis.
* Participate in required mentoring training.
* Give feedback on: (1) how you feel the mentoring scheme is progressing and
(2) the effectiveness of the structure and organisation of the scheme.

What peer e-mentoring offers:
* Sharpened leadership and interpersonal skills, and personal development.
* Pride in knowing that you've helped someone by offering study assistance and vital one-to-one help to a less experienced student.
* A free training scheme
* An increase in your career prospects by learning a life enhancing skill.
* Personal satisfaction in accepting a challenge and meeting a goal.

How do you become an e-mentor?
To become a mentor you have to be a second or third year student studying for an undergraduate award in Biological Sciences, Forensic Science, Geography, Psychology and mental Health at Staffordshire University. You can volunteer by email to: j.simpson@staffs.ac.uk. You will receive free training and orientated to the resources available to all students in the University. Find out more about mentoring in general by visiting the resources page of this web site.

Training, evaluating the effectiveness of the scheme and orientation
To become an e-mentor on this project, you must take part in a face to face training sessions with an expert mentor, staff from student services, and staff on the e-mentoring team. Training for 2011/2012 will take place in September during Welcome Week. You will also be asked to provide feedback on the effectiveness of the scheme at various stages throughout the year. Mentors will also receive directions and orientation by e-mail from the staff involved in the e-mentoring scheme.

The Agreement
All mentors and mentees in the project will sign the agreement. It has been drawn up to protect the mentor, the mentees, the team and the University and to ensure the smooth running of the project. Click here to view a copy of the agreement.

The Support
You will be supported by the staff on the e-mentoring team.

Frequency of messages
You will be asked by the staff on the e-mentoring team to e-mail your mentees during their first month at University. Thereafter, the frequency of the messages are left to each mentoring pair. It is expected that e-mentoring will take less than an hour a week. As a mentor, the onus is on you to instigate contact should it become infrequent. Mentors should respond within 48 hours to any e-mail messages sent by their mentees.

Next step
The Faculty of Sciences is delighted to be able to offer its students the possibility of mentoring. For second and third year students, this is an invaluable chance for you to both enhance your CV and participate in the development of a scheme that could have long term benefits for students at Staffordshire University. If you are interested in volunteering to be a mentor or would like to find out more about the scheme you should contact either the staff representative from your subject area on the e-mentoring team or Jean Simpson (j.simpson@staffs.ac.uk).

* Alred, G., Garvey, B., Smith, R. (1998) Mentoring Pocketbook. Management Pocketbooks Ltd, Alresford