Mentorship Program

OVERVIEW

The UCDA mentorship program is exclusive to UCDA members! We completed our pilot program in 2022 and have held it annually. Participation is first come, first served. The next program is tentatively scheduled for late-2023 or 2024.

Get in line for the next program:

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

The pairings of mentor/mentee will be matched by the UCDA Mentorship Committee based on application responses and a new profile ranking system.
After you submit your application, you will hear from us the first week of August regarding next steps.
After you are paired, you will receive a Save the Date for a special UCDA kickoff event (via Zoom) where you’ll learn about the program guidelines and expectations. You’ll also get to meet your match and get to know them a little bit in a breakout session.
The program will run for 4 months, from September 1–December 31. The frequency and schedule of meeting times will be up to the pair to determine, however it is our expectation that you meet at least once a month. During this time, you’ll be provided a framework of how your meetings might look (as a suggestion, not a requirement) as well as monthly surveys to check in and see how things are going.
Lastly, the program will conclude with a final survey and members-only wrap-up party.

WHAT IS MENTORING?

Mentoring is a partnership between two people which supports a personal and professional development strategy. Mentoring is a term generally used to describe a relationship between a less experienced individual, called a mentee, and a more experienced individual known as a mentor.

A peer mentor is a mentor at a similar professional experience level, but with expertise in a subject area that his/her partner does not possess.

Mentoring can either involve a one-on-one relationship or a network of multiple mentors.

WHAT IS A MENTOR?

A mentor is an experienced person who provides information, advice, support, and encouragement to another person, often leading and guiding by example through his/her expertise or success. In a more general sense, a good mentor is anyone you can learn something from. Mentors serve as trusted and significant advisors, providing a sounding board for day-to-day issues encountered on the job and alternative perspectives on issues in terms of both problem identification and problem solving.

The table below offers attributes of effective mentors and effective mentees.

Effective Mentors	Effective Mentees
Encourage the exploration of ideas and risk taking in learning Provide appropriate and timely advice Serve as a confident for work-related issues Help mentee to shift his/her mental context Suggest appropriate skills training Serve as a source of information and resources	Be open to receiving feedback and coaching Take responsibility for your own professional growth and development Seek challenging assignments and new responsibilities Keep commitments agreed to with your mentor Renegotiate the mentoring relationship when your personal or professional needs change

BENEFITS OF MENTORING

Research shows that individuals who are mentored have an increased likelihood of career success as a result of the targeted developmental support they receive.