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Mentoring
Mentoring
Mission
“Project
RIRAL’s Transition to College Mentoring Mission is
dedicated to improving the lives of non-traditional adult
learners through a sustained relationship of support,
guidance, and assistance between experienced mentors and
their partners who are persisting toward their
post-secondary educational journey.”
What
is the origin of the word 'Mentor'?
How
did Mentor know what to do and what to advise?
Who
is a Mentor in the 21st Century?
Who
has a Mentor?
The
History of the Transition to College Mentoring Program
Who
are our TTC College Mentors?
How
do we match our Mentors with Partners?
What
is In-House Mentoring?
View
some Student Success stories
What
is the origin of the word MENTOR?
- Homer
tells us that around 1200 B.C, Mentor was the trusted
counselor of Odysseus.
Before Odysseus set sail for the Trojan War, he
made Mentor guardian to his son Telemachus.
Mentor was a friend, advisor, and teacher to
Telemachus, helping him grow into a noble hearted, clear
thinking prince.
Mentor also helped Odysseus reclaim his kingdom
when he returned from the war.
How
did Mentor know what to do and what to advise?
- Mentor
was Athene, the Greek goddess of wisdom, in disguise.
Who
is a Mentor in the 21st Century
-
A
mentor is an experienced person with wisdom and
foresight who helps a less experienced person to find
his or her way.
-
Although it may eventually result in friendship,
mentoring is different.
-
A
mentor should remain objective in order to give
constructive feedback to his or her partner.
-
A
mentor’s goal is to help facilitate the partner’s
own problem-solving process by encouraging a sense of
independence.
Who
has a Mentor?
The
History of our TTC Mentoring Program
-
In
2003, TTC realized that mentoring would provide the
all-important support that our graduates need to
overcome the hurdles of entry into the post-secondary
education system, and we decided to establish a
mentoring component.
-
We
recognized that a successful mentoring program hinges on
our being able to guide, advise, and encourage our new
students as they transition into college life.
-
Our
goals are to enlist the help of a wide variety of
experienced volunteers to be able to service all TTC
graduating students who request a mentor.
Who
are our TTC College Mentors?
- Our
mentors come from a variety of backgrounds, and they are
knowledgeable about the pitfalls and challenges our
non-traditional learners experience.
- Some
are former TTC students who have succeeded and want to
make the journey easier for their peers.
Others are TTC instructors and staff.
Still more come from the ranks of CCRI
instructors and counselors, and members of the Rhode
Island Adult Education Community.
- While
our TTC mentors may feel comfortable tutoring their
partners, this is not a requirement; however, we do
expect our mentors to be familiar with the college
environment and resources.
- The
common thread is that all of our mentors believe in the
TTC mission and are committed to helping our
non-traditional adult learners achieve their
post-secondary education goals.
How
do we match our Mentors with Partners?
- We
understand that matching is crucial to the success of
our program, so we look at a variety of factors.
We review each partner’s individual needs and
try to match him/her with a mentor who will respond to
those specific needs.
- We
consider gender, age, language requirements, shared
interests, compatible personalities; in addition, we try
to determine how much support and advice a particular
partner may need – will a mentor be able to provide
that support, and will the partner feel comfortable
asking for help.
- In
many situations, we believe that a face-to-face
introduction of mentors and partners is often the best
way to get the relationship moving.
In some cases, though, today’s technology is
the preferred method of connecting – e-mail is
becoming an important mentoring tool.
What
is In-house Mentoring?
- Once
a month, we conduct an In-house Mentoring Evening.
This is an opportunity for TTC staff and students
to get together in a less formal environment.
Our In-house sessions allow us to focus on a
variety of different topics.
- There
is always “housekeeping” to be done: are students
on-track with their college paperwork, do they have
questions and comments about their classes?
- Special
programs and workshops are conducted during In-house
mentoring evenings -- a yoga demonstration, a workshop
on how to deal with “Change”, motivational speakers.
- And,
perhaps most importantly, these evenings provide the
Mentoring Coordinator with an opportunity to get to know
the students who will eventually be needing mentors;
thus, the matching process is made easier.
Student
Mentor Stories
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