The Alumni Mentorship Program is designed by Career and Advising Center to provide more opportunities for interaction and networking of alumni with current students, building a strong relationship between them in a related industry or in the field of their further education.

OBJECTIVES

• Create an ecosystem encouraging student research and innovation initiatives
• Offer students a link between academic study and the realities of the professional workplace
• Bring together current students with alumni through informative friendships
• Provide an access to valuable advice and professional networks
• Support on enhancing NU reputation and positive image
• Assist in achieving NU strategic goal to join the ranks of world-class research universities

Alumni Mentorship Program aligns with the goals of the NU Alumni Engagement Strategy 2020-2025

3.3. Networking opportunities

Objective: To make connections between alumni and the University community a cornerstone by providing more opportunities for interaction and networking.

Actions:

• Create more opportunities for alumni and students to connect on and off campus.
• Develop initiatives and programs targeted at early engagement of students to grow into loyal alumni

3.4. Clear communication Objective: Provide an easy, effective and quick method of communication between the University, its organizations, students and alumni. Actions:

• Develop effective communication means and mechanisms to help ease issues, speed up processes and increase awareness.

AREAS TO MENTOR ON

• Continuing education (graduate application, GRE, GMAT, how to choose a university, etc.)
• Job search (how and where to search for jobs/internships within your industry, conducting mock interviews, giving feedback on mentee’s CV)
• Career conversations (current trends, organizational culture, how to make a choice)
• Networking (what networking approaches are the best, how to network and where)

BENEFITS

Alumni Mentor	Student Mentee
Improves awareness of own learning gaps Develops ability to give and take criticism Develops up-to-date organizational and professional knowledge Improves leadership and communication skills Develops ability to challenge, stimulate and reflect Offers opportunity to pass on knowledge and experience	Develops learning, analytical and reflective skills Develops self-confidence Develops ability to accept criticism May accelerate professional development Increases maturity Broadens horizons Reduces reality shock

PRINCIPLES

Voluntary participation

• Participation in the Program should be the choice of a mentor and mentee.
• Mentors and mentees are not paid for their participation in the project; however, conversations, correspondence and meetings between a mentor and mentee should take place at a convenient time and in a convenient location;

Confidentiality

• Mentor and mentee should understand that all information, questions and conversations they share with each other are completely confidential;

Improving skills

• Mentee should understand that mentor’s job does not include making decisions for his/her mentee, the solution to his/her problems, or fix his/her mistakes.

Improving the culture of behavior

• The relationship between mentors and mentees should be based solely on friendly basis.

PROGRAM STRUCTURE

Application and Training

• Promoting the Program among students and alumni
• Completing an online profile to become a mentor or a mentee
• Attending training/orientation session to be eligible for participation. Training will be hold by NU CAC

Matching Process

• Creating mentors profile
• Sharing mentors profiles with registered mentees for choosing a mentor
• Matching and Connecting mentors and mentees on personal and professional commonalities
• Emailing a notification with the name and contact information of their match. Depending on the number of applications, a mentor might have more than one mentee.
• Confirming a Mentor Mentee Agreements

Evaluation and Improving

• Participants will be surveyed on a regular basis. Surveys are designed to evaluate the individual relationships and identify areas of growth for the program.
• Collecting mentors/mentees’ feedback about the participation experience and possible improvement ways.
• Awarding Process
• Providing a Certificate of appreciation and awarding of the most active mentors

TIME COMMITMENT AND COMMUNICATION

• The formal relationship is around a 6-months commitment.
• Mentors and mentees should communicate at least once a month and in whichever form agreed upon by the pair (i.e. phone, email, video chat, in person, etc.).
• After the formal commitment has ended, pairs are able to continue mentorship, if desired.
• Either party has the option of discontinuing the relationship for any reason provided the terminating party notifies the other and NU CAC.
• NU CAC is not responsible for continued partnerships after the formal end of program.
• Participants assume responsibility for their own mentoring relationships.

MENTOR EXPECTATIONS and RESPONSIBILITIES

MENTOR EXPECTATIONS

• Communicate with your mentee at least once a month through applicable channels (i.e. email, phone, in-person, etc.)
• Set expectations with your mentee regarding how and when you will remain in contact
• Create and nurture a professional relationship with your mentee through thoughtful conversations related to further development
• Respond to all communications in a timely manner
• Maintain confidentiality at all times, barring ethical or safety concerns
• Notify NU CAC of any issues during your time as a mentor
• Provide feedback about your experience through evaluation survey

MENTOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Help mentee identify and set goals, track progress, and adapt to changes.
• Help mentee establish a long term and short term Action Plans
• Proactively maintain contact and encourage open communication
• Clarify concepts and proactively seek answers to the mentee’s questions
• Facilitate career planning and development skills (targeting, networking, resume building).
• Encourage professionalism. Reinforce important competencies and skills valued for a successful career in the chosen field
• Serve as a role model by demonstrating professional behavior
• Help the student externalize classroom education
• Encourage introspection
• Maintain privacy/confidentiality

MENTEE EXPECTATIONS and RESPONSIBILITIES

MENTEE EXPECTATIONS

• Communicate with your mentor at least once a month through applicable channels (i.e. email, phone, in person, etc.)
• Set specific goals for the mentoring relationship with the mentor
• Be open to thoughtful conversations related to professional development, including suggestions and feedback
• Be appropriate in requests to mentor (i.e. not asking for a job or internship)
• Maintain confidentiality at all times, barring ethical or safety concerns
• Notify NU CAC of any issues during your time as a mentee
• Provide feedback about your experience through evaluation surveys

MENTEE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Be available
• Be engaged
• Respect mentor’s time and efforts invested in your development
• Establish regular “meeting” times; readjusting as at the start of a new semester
• Active listening
• Have clear goals and expectations
• Maintain privacy/confidentiality

BEST PRACTICES

Mentor action plan	Mentee action plan
Determine mentees’ goals and expectations	Determine mentor’s goals and expectations
Contact information/preferred contact method	Contact information/ Preferred contact method
Communication log	Communication log
Set up goal to work together action plan for both	Set up goal to work together action plan for both
Keep notes on conversations for goal setting and constructive feedback	Keep notes on conversations
Review and offer feedback regarding your mentees’ development plan	Construct a development plan based on discussion with mentors
Complete post evaluation survey conducted by NU CAC	Complete post evaluation survey conducted by NU CAC
	Send formal thank you note to mentor

Click HERE to download MENTOR MENTEE AGREEMENT

RESOURCES

Career services	Career and Advising Center, cac@nu.edu.kz, 706538 www.cac.nu.edu.kz
Alumni Relation	CAC Alumni Relation Unit, alumni@nu.edu.kz, 705886 www.alumni.nu.edu.kz
Offering mental health counseling	Psychological Counseling Center, pcc@nu.edu.kz 705735

USEFUL PUBLICATIONS TO READ

• NU Strategy 2018-2030 link
• 6 Things Every Mentor Should Do
• Overcoming the Challenges of Mentoring
• Definition of mentor link