How To Become a

Successful
Mentor
Peer Mentor Pilot Program 2005-2006
Training/Orientation Workshop

Asian American Center

Northern Illinois University
www.niu.edu/aac
Introduction
Topics for Discussion
 The mission and goals of the mentoring
program
 Responsibilities and expectations of
mentors
 Ethics for mentoring
 Description of the mentor binder
Agenda
 Icebreaker Activity
 Overview of Program
 Mentoring Components
 Pre-Assessment
 Photos
Overview
Through this training, we expect to provide the
mentor with guidance in becoming a great
leader. In return, the mentor will be able to
provide guidance and attention to new students
as they make their transition from high school to
college.
Vocabulary
Who is a Mentor ?
 A Mentor is someone who has been there,
done that, learned from the experience, and is
willing to share.

 A Mentor is someone who helps other people

(protégés) to reach their full potential.

 The emphasis is always on enabling and

empowering protégés to do things for themselves.
Qualities of a Mentor
 A good listener
 Genuinely interested
 Reliable
 Responsible
 Responsive
 A guide
 A trusted friend
Benefits of Mentoring
 Mentoring is an inspiring, creative, and
motivating experience, which aids the personal
development of both the mentor and protégé.

 Being a mentor offers you the opportunity to:

• Help others achieve their goals
• Develop coaching skills
• Acquire a new perspective
• Develop skills in others
Qualities of a Good Mentor
 Available - Commits to spending time with protégé
 Patient - Respects the differences between himself/herself and the
protégé
 Knowledgeable - Familiar with the resources available on campus
and how the protégé can benefit from them
 Confidant - Reliable, self-assured, and conscientious when interacting
with the protégé.
 A Good Listener - Speaks less, listens more, and carefully considers
the needs of the protégé.
 Inspiration - Sees the possibilities by bringing to life the qualities we
aspire for ourselves
Vocabulary
Who is a Protégé ?

 A Protégé is a new first-year or transfer

student who decides to obtain extra personal
and academic assistance from an experienced
upper-class student.

 Sometimes new students find it helpful to sit

down and talk to someone who has been down
the same path and can share their successes
and struggles.
Benefits of having a Mentor
 Peer support
 Academic support
 Leadership opportunities
 Guidance
 Interaction with new people
 Social opportunities
 Personal growth & development
Objectives of Mentoring
 To help improve a student’s self-esteem and
confidence
 To provide opportunities to develop positive
relationships
 To reduce the drop-out rate and increase retention in
school
 To create an avenue for allowing people in the
community or in the school to further assist in
education
 To recognize the potential in all students
 To allow students to look beyond their present
condition and envision a promising future
Responsibilities and
Expectations
 Mentors will be expected to attend monthly
meetings
 Mentors must maintain weekly
communication with their assigned protégé.
 Mentors must attend mentoring program
activities and invite their protégés to attend
as well.
Confidentiality
 Care needs to be taken to observe the rights of other
students’ privacy

 A mentor is cautious about when and where he/she gains

peer or supervisory support

 A mentor does not talk to other students about the progress

of his/her protégé without the protégé’s permission.

 A mentor understands the importance of his/her role with

the protégé and therefore respects the boundaries of
confidentiality.
Ethics for Mentoring
 If a student talks about grades, what do you do
with that information ?

 What would you do if you knew a student was

cheating ?

 What would you do if a student was breaking

the law ?
Competency
 You are a student who knows what it’s like to face similar
frustrations and personal growth that comes from the
college experience. You have knowledge of programs and
services at NIU. When appropriate, refer your protégé to
these services.

 However, do not try to answer questions to which you do

not know the answers.

 Don’t be afraid to say “ I don’t know, but I’ll get back to

you with that information.”
Consultation and
Supervision
 When you have questions or concerns about
your protégé or about your performance,
consult with the Peer Mentor Program
coordinator.
 It is a good idea to take notes on your protégé,
so you will remember concerns you need to
discuss at upcoming mentor meetings.
 If you are ever in doubt as to what to do in a
particular situation, you should always contact
the peer mentor program coordinator.
Description of Mentor
Binder
 Mentor and Protégé Information
 Mentor/Protégé Contract
 Weekly Activity / Communication
Report
 Record of General Communication
 Additional Resources
Questions ??
Comments !!