In the Education Studies and Human Relations (ESHR) Mentoring program, mentors are graduate students who will give advice and support to undergraduate students pertaining to the college experience. Graduate mentors have similar experiences to what undergraduate mentees are going through and can provide insight in those ways.

If you are interested in the mentoring program, you can reach out by email to simona-flores@uiowa.edu.

What are the benefits of being a mentor?

  • As a mentor you will be able to help support the current and future success of undergraduate students.
  • As a mentor, you will be able to build upon skill sets of supervision, communication, and community-building.
  • As a mentor, you will be able to help assist in the development of a welcoming culture not only within the ESHR program, but across departments within the College of Education.

What are the responsibilities and commitments of a mentor?

  • As a mentor, you will meet with your mentee at least once a month for at least half an hour. Meetings can be made over Zoom or an otherwise agreed upon location with the mentee.
  • Additionally, mentors will meet once a month at an agreed upon time to meet with update other mentors about successes, improvements, resources, problem-solving, etc.
  • Mentors will build rapport with students through conversation about classes, co- curricular activities, and general interest topics about the student’s experience. The allotted time commitment will range between 2-5 hours a month dependent on engagement with mentees.

What are NOT in the confines of the mentors responsibilities?

  • Mentors are not expected to be tutors. Though resources for academics may be given, there are no expectations to help students with directly course work.
  • Mentors are not expected to be mental health providers/counselors. Should students ask so, please refer them to university resources.

What are the requirements to become a mentor?

  • Mentors must be enrolled in the College of Education as a graduate student
  • Mentors must submit a mentor application
  • Mentors must provide a faculty contact for an informal recommendation
  • Mentors must complete a short interview