Document Type

Chapter

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Making Connections: A Handbook for Effective Formal Mentoring Programs in Academia

Editor

David Law & Nora Domínguez

Publisher

Utah State University

Publication Date

5-15-2023

First Page

463

Last Page

473

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Abstract

We introduce a targeted approach to mentoring programs that considers students’ developmental stage and fosters an inclusive mentoring community. Using the case study of Babson College’s Center for Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Mentoring Programs, this chapter will detail evidence-based effective practice in delivering high-quality mentoring across distinctive student populations as well as connecting students and mentor volunteers to one another to cultivate a mentoring community. We highlight three mentoring programs: the Undergraduate Near Peer, Undergraduate Professional, and Graduate mentor programs. Each program is designed to match student mentees with developmentally appropriate mentors who provide support tailored to their needs. The Undergraduate Near Peer Mentoring Program pairs first-year students with third or fourth students for adjustment to college and integration with the broader community of diverse leaders. The Undergraduate Professional Mentoring Program pairs junior and senior students with early-career professionals (3–15 years of work experience) for vocational exploration and transition to work opportunities and challenges. The Graduate Mentoring Program pairs graduate students with seasoned professionals (15+ years of executive experience) for more advanced vocational exploration and sophisticated career transition strategies for diverse leaders. Programs are designed to incorporate industry best practices, including participant input for matching, required orientation, mentorship agreements, goal setting, and resources. Across all programs, students and mentors are encouraged to connect with one another through formal program opportunities and to develop a network of relationships to support their journey at Babson College and beyond.

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