Mentoring Program - About The Program

Remember life as a student? Cramming for exams, setting goals, anticipating the future, and feeling nervous about how to handle ourselves when we finally entered the profession of our choice. Some of us were lucky enough to have a mentor who showed us the ropes during the early part of our careers. Some of us may wish we had the support of a mentor to guide us in these early days. Whatever our experience was then, the Baruch College Mentoring Program offers us the opportunity to become mentors now.

The program is designed to match Baruch students with working professionals who will advise and direct students on the path to success in their chosen field.

The dynamic mentor/student relationship involves give and take in which both participants benefit. Mentors invest time, energy and effort in order to develop their protege's professional growth, knowledge and skills. Mentors have the opportunity to strengthen their coaching skills, refine their knowledge of their field by passing that knowledge on, meet new talent, develop new insights and perspectives, enhance their abilities to solicit and receive feedback, and enjoy seeing someone they have guided thrive. Those who are mentored receive invaluable advice and support from seasoned professionals that may help them throughout their careers.

The program requires a commitment of one academic year. And it provides structured methods of accountability that help mentoring partners make the most of their relationship.

We welcome you to consider sharing your professional and educational experiences with a student. Or, recommend others whom you feel would make a great mentor - mentors need not be Baruch alumni. The rewards are worth it.

This introduction hopes to provide you with ample information about the mentoring program in order to take the next step. If you decide to commit to the program, we invite you to give us sufficient personal information to assist in matching you with the right student(s). Please take the time to read the following carefully.

Program Overview

Our mentoring program is designed to match Baruch College students with professionals who have collegiate and professional experience that would be useful to our students. Though varied in their goals, students' needs tend to be similar in general. Their focus is often on the uncertainties of the professional world that awaits them. For the most part, these are students who have chosen a professional track but have little or no experience with the day-to-day workings of that field.

In addition, many students are faced with issues within their academic pursuits. College life presents its own sets of challenges, which varies from major to major. Thus, many students have both professional and academic questions that may arise over the course of the relationship established through the mentoring program.

Mentor Responsibilities

As a mentor, answering questions and offering advice about your chosen field and/or opinions on a student's academic pursuits will make up the bulk of your responsibilities. Additional activities tend to be supplemental to these two goals. While it is true that mentors who are Baruch College alumni may have an advantage in relating to the students, that in no way excludes non-Baruch alumni. Experience in a professional field is valuable to these students -regardless of the mentor's alma mater. In the matter of academic concerns as well, non-Baruch alumni can prove equally valuable. On their side, mentors speak mainly of the personal satisfaction derived in helping students make better-informed decisions in their professional and academic lives. Past mentors have found that, with suitable students assigned to them, they often gain fresh perspectives on their own professional lives.

The program requires a one-year commitment, beginning in the fall semester and continuing on through the spring of the following year. Please note, though, new mentor applicants are always welcome. On average, the program requires a minimum monthly allowance of 2 - 3 hours during the semester. At the end of each year, mentors are asked to indicate if they wish to end their involvement or continue on. Every mentor is encouraged to write an evaluation of the program at the end of each semester. This aids us in improving the program.

Possible Mentor Concerns

The most common misconception expressed by prospective mentors concern time. Both students and mentors already have busy lives, especially mentors who often have less flexible schedules. The use of e-mail, has reduced these concerns significantly. Mentors and students have found that communicating via e-mail allows them to make significantly better use of their time and reduces the encumbrance of out-of-sync schedules. While it does not completely replace in-person contact, it does facilitate the exchange of ideas, opinions and suggestions in a more continuous flow.

We certainly encourage meetings in person, nevertheless it is entirely feasible for an email-only mentoring relationship to be highly successful and satisfying. To that end, long-distance (or near!) mentors are also invited to apply and may be matched with students agreeable to email-only commitments.

The Application Process

We hope the above information has enabled you to determine if you would be interested in joining the mentoring program. If you have questions or would like to speak with a program representative, please direct your inquiries to the Baruch College Alumni Association office (BCAAalumni@baruch.cuny.edu).If you are interested in applying for this program, please go to form1.html and complete our application form.

Upon review of the application, we will contact you to inform you of your acceptance into the program and begin matching you with the students. If you know anyone who may be interested in this program, please forward them this information.