APPLY ONLINE by August 17th
WELCOME
The Fordham Mentoring Program pairs motivated students
with experienced alumni who share professional and personal expertise
and guidance through a one-on-one year-long mentorship. Mentors and mentees
take part in Fordham-hosted events and workshops, regular engagement
surveys, mock interviews, resume reviews, and other networking
opportunities to establish a meaningful relationship of value to both
partners.
The program allows mentors to partner with Fordham faculty
and staff in preparing students for successful and fulfilling lives as
global leaders, enabling them to live out the charge of St. Ignatius to
"go forth and set the world on fire!"
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
After applications are carefully reviewed and mentors and
mentees are matched based off commonalities in their person-professional
profiles, participants receive a notification informing them of their
pairing and providing more information on their mentor or mentee.
Throughout the year-long program, mentors and mentees meet and
communicate regularly based off the agreed-upon terms of the
Mentor-Mentee Covenant. Pairs are required to attend four Fordham-hosted
Milestone events and check in regularly by completing scheduled
Checkpoint surveys.
THE MENTEE
Mentees benefit from the partnership by working with an
experienced and supportive professional. They learn to define their goals,
express themselves professionally, and gain exposure to new ideas,
perspectives, and environments. Mentee professionalism and commitment is
central to the success of the Fordham Mentoring Program.
(FAQs)
Who are the mentees?
The mentees are upperclassmen undergraduate students from
the Gabelli School of Business, Fordham College at Lincoln Center,
and Fordham College at Rose Hill. Applicants are among Fordham's
most motivated students. To be admitted to the program, the
student's application must be reviewed and approved by the Fordham
Mentoring Team and he or she must complete a prerequisite training session
in the Office of Career Services.
Who are the mentors?
Mentors may be alumni from any of Fordham's undergraduate,
graduate, and/or professional schools. Mentors may also be friends of
the University or parents of Fordham students. Each mentor thus has a unique
understanding of the Fordham experience and a commitment to helping
students achieve success.
Mentors must be at least three (3) years out from graduation
but otherwise range in age, experience, and realm of expertise.
Mentor professions include architects, lawyers, physicians, finance
professionals, marketing executives, publishers—the list goes on!
What if my mentor is not a perfect match?
As stated in the Match Notification Message, the golden rule
of mentoring is that the experience is what you make of it. Students,
your mentor may not have your "dream job" or be an identical
match. Realize that as an experienced professional, your mentor has a
breadth of advice – personal and professional – to share. The keys to
success are not necessarily career-specific secrets but general skills,
characteristics, and best practices.
So, be open-minded, curious,
responsive, and remember the major thing you both have in common: your
Fordham experience!
What are Milestone Events?
The offices of Alumni Relations and Career Services host
four events each year to provide an opportunity for matched pairs to meet
and for participants to engage the larger group. The focus and structure
of these events varies.
The first event, the Meet & Greet, welcomes
participants, and provides an introduction and general overview of the
program. The event allows mentors and mentees the opportunity to meet and
discuss, and agree upon the terms and expectations of their mentoring
relationship in the Mentor-Mentee Covenant Form.
The skills development workshop takes various forms, is held
before the holiday break and typically focuses on the development of
several important professional competencies. The event begins with a
formal presentation on the topic by an industry expert and then groups
have the opportunity to network and engage one another as part of a relevant
workshop exercise. This typically means speed networking or resume reviews.
At the third event, held in the beginning of the spring
semester, mentors and mentees are invited to network over a pre-game
lunch before attending a Men’s Basketball home game. During the luncheon,
a Fordham alumnus will present on any of several various topics. The
concluding event, normally held in the spring before final exams, is the
Mentor Appreciation Dinner. At this event, participants acknowledge the
contributions of their partners, and in a particular way students and the
university staff express their appreciation for the time and service of the
program’s mentors. Participants dine at industry-focused tables, allowing
for themed professional discussions.
What if I have to miss a milestone event?
Pairs are strongly encouraged to attend all four milestone
events, however sometimes other commitments may present scheduling conflicts.
As long as notice of the need to reschedule is provided in advance of the
event and the pair makes plans to meet in lieu of the event, he or she may
be excused from attending. Note that the full program schedule is posted
on the program’s website in advance.
What is considered an appropriate mentoring relationship?
As a mentor, it is critical to remember that you are a role
model. Though a trusting friendship may (and should) be the foundation of
a mentorship, remember your mentee is not your peer. Appropriate meeting
places include your place of business (job shadowing), a public place, or
one of Fordham's campuses, while inappropriate meeting places include
bars, malls, residences, and dorm rooms. Consuming alcohol with or buying
alcohol for your mentee is strictly prohibited.
May a mentor-mentee pair remain matched after the end of
the program, or renew their through next academic year?
When the student graduates, it is up to the mentor and
mentee whether they would like to retain a mentorship and to outline how the
nature and terms of this relationship may be different. If a student and
mentor are looking to extend the relationship to a second year, they may
do so after notifying the Fordham Mentoring Team.
Interested? Apply today!
