What is the Purpose of the Mentoring Program?

The Mentoring Program matches mentors with Missouri School of Journalism students for the purpose of developing nurturing relationships to encourage the students’ professional development. As students face challenges in balancing both college and personal life, while simultaneously seeking to make important career decisions, the mentoring program provides student mentees an opportunity to share their ideas, concerns and goals with their mentor. In return, mentors assist student mentees by providing guidance and sharing their professional life experiences to better enable students to avoid pitfalls and overcome various challenges in achieving their career goals. From the perspectives of the journalism and strategic communication organizations, the Multicultural Mentoring Program affords their personnel an opportunity to serve as positive role models for Missouri School of Journalism students. The program also operates as a valuable tool for recruitment, retention, knowledge transfer, and workforce development and diversity.

What are the Requirement for Program Participation?

Mentors must be a Missouri School of Journalism alumni or a staff member of a journalism or strategic communication organization partner. The staff from the partner organizations must obtain their supervisor’s approval before volunteering to participate in the program.

Mentees must be currently enrolled in the Missouri School of Journalism’s undergraduate program as a sophomore, junior or senior.

Mentees may not work with more than one journalism or strategic communication organization at any given time. In the event the number of mentees exceeds the number of eligible mentors, mentors may agree to be paired with more than one mentee.

Mentors and student mentees must commit to meet at least once per month for one school academic year unless either the mentor or mentee decides to terminate the mentoring relationship before the end of the academic year.

How is the Mentoring Program Administered?

The Missouri School of Journalism Student Development, Diversity and Inclusion Office is responsible for the general management and oversight of the Multicultural Mentoring Program. The Office includes an Executive Director who is responsible for reviewing the mentor and student mentee profiles. The executive director will review the guidelines annually with mentors and mentee and make adjustments accordingly.

How will Mentoring Sessions Occur?

Communications between mentors and student mentees must be conducted by email, telephone or some other electronic means. Mentors and mentees may not have face-to-face meetings without providing prior written notification to the Multicultural Mentoring Program. The Office of Student Development, Diversity and Inclusion will work with the mentor and mentee to meet in person if they so desire.

What is the Program Enrollment Process?

The enrollment process is open and continuous throughout the semester, with outreach activities scheduled in the spring and fall semester of each calendar year. At the beginning of the spring and fall semesters, the Multicultural Mentoring Program will hold a separate mentoring informational session for mentees. To participate in the program, interested mentors and student mentees must complete the appropriate Mentor or Mentee Profile Form, and email the completed profile to Executive Director: Ron Kelley. If the mentor and/or student mentee are not satisfied with the match, one or both may request another mentor and/or student mentee.