Mentoring at OSU: Connecting you for a Brighter Future
Overview
Did you know that one of the greatest factors toward success for people in American society is to have someone that believes in you and cares for you? Each of us can look at our lives and recall people who touched it in meaningful and powerful ways. These people offered us guidance, support, wisdom, a safe haven where we could expose our uncertainties and grow as perpetual learners. These people were our mentors, whether we realized it or not.
There are several mentoring programs on OSU’s campus, each serving a segment of the population. In addition, the Office of Community and Diversity has a general mentoring program that allows students, staff, and faculty to be mentored by others on campus. We collaborate with many of the other mentoring programs on campus to expand opportunities and to support your mentoring journey.
Whether you are a staff member, a faculty member, undergraduate or graduate student there are mentoring opportunities for you. Be a Mentor! Be a Protégé! Not sure where you fit? Contact Diane Davis at diane.davis@oregonstate.edu There is a place for you here.
About the Community and Diversity Mentoring Program
Launched in 2007, the Community and Diversity mentoring program matches mentors and protégés based on information they say is important to them. All faculty, staff and students are invited to participate. We ask that each person commit to spending 1-3 hours per month together and work together on whatever they choose. We also ask that both parties honor each other’s time and keep all scheduled meetings.
Mentoring pairs come from all over campus, from a Dean and a student working on leadership to the new and experienced staff members working on how to get things done on campus, to a newly appointed director working with an experienced director.
Check back frequently for orientation information and watch OSU Today for updates.
About the Mentoring Program at OSU
There are several formal and informal mentoring programs at OSU. We strongly encourage you to examine all of them to see which one best meets your needs. Some of the other opportunities include:
Recreational Sports for employees of Rec Sports. Contact Troy Snow for more information at 737-7110 or Troy.Snow@oregonstate.edu.
Department of Animal Science for Animal Science students. Contact Tom Savage for more information at 737-5066 or thomas.savage@oregonstate.edu.
Women and Minorities in Engineering for women and minority engineering students. Contact Ellen Momsen for more information at 737-9699 or ellen.momsen@oregonstate.edu.
Peer Mentoring for Research Support Faculty for College of Forestry research support faculty members. Learn more at http://www.forestry.oregonstate.edu/cof/fs/RSF/mentoring.htm
Sister Scholars provides academic, professional and personal support through peer-to-peer mentoring. All women students are eligible. Contact the Women’s Center at womenscenter@oregonstate.edu or 737-3186.
OSU CAMP Mentoring provides mentoring for all CAMP students. For information, contact Miguel Santiago at santiagm@onid.orst.edu
Ujima Mentoring provides peer mentoring for incoming African-American freshmen. For information, contact Amber Wilburn at wilburna@onid.orst.edu
Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANNRS) provides mentoring for members. For information, contact wanda.crannell@oregonstate.edu or visit http://agsci.oregonstate.edu/manrrs/index.php
Don’t see a group that looks like a fit? Get involved through the general mentoring program through the Office of Community and Diversity!
(If you would like to have your mentoring program listed here, please contact Diane Davis at diane.davis@oregonstate.edu )
About Mentoring
What is mentoring? Is it for me? The origins of mentoring can be traced back to ancient Greece. Mentoring is a process through which one person facilitates the development of another by sharing known resources, expertise, values, skills, perspectives, attitudes and proficiencies. It allows the learner to build skills and knowledge while attaining goals for personal and career development. Conversely, it provides the opportunity for the experienced individual to further enhance his/her skill and knowledge areas by continuously reassessing and building upon those areas.
Mentoring brings value to everyone involved in its practice: protégés, mentors and the organization(s) for which they work.
•Protégés have an opportunity to gain wisdom from someone who has traveled the path before them.
•Mentors have an opportunity to invest themselves in someone who seeks what they can offer.
•The organization has the opportunity to share and spread its acquired learning and know-how.
In addition to those who are directly involved in its practice, mentoring also helps the community at large because it fosters an environment in which people work together and assist one another in their drive to become better skilled, more intelligent individuals. Together we are all sharing…solving…succeeding.
Anyone can be a mentor.
The most important quality in a mentor is simply the interest and willingness to listen to and support their protégé. Everyone has something to give and most mentors discover they really get more than they give.
Anyone can be a protégé. The most important qualities in a protégé are the willingness to talk ideas through with another trusted adult and to question assumptions and perspectives. Everyone can benefit from mentoring at any stage in their life.
Reciprocating the Relationship--What Do You Have to Offer? Many mentors hope to make an important, long-lasting, positive change in another person's life, something that would help their protégés move forward into their future. The only way that mentors can know how they're doing is if protégés tell them. What you have to offer your mentor is your appreciation and an explanation of the impact the relationship has had on your current and future success.
It's as important to talk about what your mentor wants and needs from the relationship as it is to discuss your needs as a protégé’.
Guiding Principles for Mentors and Protégés
Strive for mutual benefits. The relationship should be defined from the beginning as mutually beneficial. Each participant has committed to the relationship by choice. Each should openly share his or her goals for the relationship and work collaboratively to help achieve them.
Agree on confidentiality. Maintaining an environment of confidentiality is a critical component in building trust between the participants. Without a mutually understood ability to speak freely as the situation warrants, the relationship is unlikely to reach its full potential.
Commit to honesty. The participants should be willing to candidly share what they expect to gain from the relationship and their vision for getting there. They should be prepared to offer frank feedback as appropriate, even if the feedback is critical.
Listen and learn. Mutual benefit and honesty can only be achieved when both members feel their viewpoints are heard and respected. Mentors, especially, need to remember that the relationship is not primarily about them. Lead by example. Actions create the most lasting impression.
For More Information
For more information about the Community and Diversity mentoring program, or for assistance in finding a mentoring program that will fit you best, please contact Diane Davis at diane.davis@oregonstate.edu.
Mentoring Guide and Sign Up Links:
Sign up to be a mentor
Sign up to be a protégé
View Mentoring guide
