Breadcrumb
Mentoring
Successful support of students in service positions at your agency begins when students first approach your agency. Guide students new to your agency on a warm and welcoming site orientation to help set the tone and expectations for student conduct and interactions with your organization's constituents, while helping the students feel more comfortable and relevant to your agency, programs, and mission. Site supervisors who provide excellent mentoring skills, including positive troubleshooting strategies as needed, can enhance the student's learning experience for both the student and staff.
Service Learners and Academic Interns are in learning experiences.
Students help meet community needs, while using their experiences as a basis to understand their course content. Ask students how their class readings connect to their service experience.
Students are making personal and professional connections.
For many students, this may be their first experience with community service or in a professional field. The local cultural scene might be very different from their past experiences. Check in with students on their comfort levels and their learning experience.
Be an involved mentor and co-educator.
Set mutual goals, reflect, and provide feedback to students on how they are doing. Create a safe space for discussion. Use effective questioning and listening, while making connections and responding to cultural and diversity issues. Tie discussions back to the learning objectives stated in the Student Learning Plan, or as discussed with faculty/students.
Mentoring basics include:
- Model: model the desired activity/behavior.
- Mentor: provide support and encouragement.
- Monitor: provide guidance as needed.
- Motivate: provide constructive feedback.
- Multiply: students may begin to train others!
Help students think about the organizational context, relevant issues, and agency/community impact.
Reflect and reinforce how the student helps your organization meet mission/purpose, goals, and community needs. Tie the student’s skills, observations, and contributions into innovations that may benefit your organization. Invite students to your board and other agency meetings.
Talk to us.
Keep the course faculty and the Center for Community Based Learning staff informed of any concerns and suggestions related to the student or experience. We are here to facilitate the process and assist you in any way possible.
Show appreciation.
Students want to be appreciated. Letters of recognition, newsletter features, thank you notes, and verbal acknowledgements can go a long way in building student confidence and a professional résumé.
“One impressive student utilized his sociology understanding and personal photography skills to help the Community Bike Kitchen tell the stories of several bike kitchen volunteers. This helped the bike kitchen appeal to new potential members and celebrate the positive influence the bike kitchen has in the community.” - Emily Sinkhorn, formerly with Natural Resources Services, Redwood Community Action Agency