Mentoring
Helping students explore Professional opportunities in engineering is one of the core goals of the annual SEAS Alumni Mentoring program. The program pairs alumni mentors with first-year undergraduate engineering students for one year. Each one-to-one mentor/student pair typically communicates throughout the year via email and phone, and when possible, the pair meets in person. The program ends in the fall of the student’s sophomore year, with an assessment and celebration at the culmination of the mentoring year (possibly during Homecoming weekend).
What's Involved?
Becoming a mentor is a great experience for alumni and an invaluable opportunity for our students. The relationship allows alumni to remain engaged with SEAS and to pass on details of their experience at Penn and in the workplace to a curious student. Examples of informal and formal activities to build the mentor-student relationship throughout the year have included:
- Lunch/Dinner/Coffee meetings
- Touring the mentor's company
- Spending a day shadowing the mentor
- Attending professional/business meetings
- Communicating via email or phone
What's Expected?
The student is expected to initiate and maintain contact with the mentor following the match process. Each mentor and mentee should plan to meet at least twice during the program. In addition, contact should occur via phone or e-mail at least once every 2-3 months. At the end of the year, both participants are asked to complete and return an assessment of their experience in participating in the program to the Career Services Office.