CoEnvironment Interdisciplinary Mentorship Program
About
What is Mentoring and Why is it Important:
“Mentoring is a process through which one person facilitates the development of another by sharing known resources, expertise, values, skills, perspectives, attitudes and/or proficiencies.”
Dr. Terryl Ross, Assistant Dean of Diversity, UW College of the Environment
Mentoring is important because not only does it help to increase 1st year retention and 6th year graduation rates, but also general retention and interdisciplinary community building.
Key Facets of the Program:
- Interdisciplinary mentoring connections between all the different departments in the College of the Environment
- 1:1 Undergraduate and Graduate mentoring match-ups
- Quarterly Planned Social Events, and possibility of more frequent informal affinity group meet-ups
- Led by the College of the Environment Student Advisory Council and College of the Environment Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
- Program runs from September – June, with mentoring pairs expected to meet up at least once a month for ~1/2 hr
History of the College of the Environment Interdisciplinary Mentoring Program:
2019
Intitial Formation
Original Working Group of Darby Jenny, Rachel Fricke, Cori Currier, Antonio Chaparro, & Esaac Mazengia create and work on proposal to start a mentoring program within the College of the Environment Winter Q 2019
CoEnv Mentoring Climate Survey
A College of the Environment mentoring climate survey is sent out to gauge interest in the formation of a mentoring program. Results reveal that of survey respondents 75% had unmet mentoring needs and 74% would be interested in joining a future mentoring program.
Mentoring Mixer Event
SAC Hosts Mentoring Mixer Event Spring Q 2019. The details about what students would want in a mentoring program are discussed
Mentoring Panel Event
Mentoring panel event hosted by the SAC to build momentum around mentoring within the College
Program Sign-Up Opens
Mentoring Program sign-up opens, 60 people eventually sign-up to join the inaugural group
2020
Kickoff Event
SAC hosts the inaugural College of the Environment Interdisciplinary Mentoring Program kickoff event (dessert and documentary discussion)
Moving Online & CoEnv Jeopardy
Due to the Covid pandemic, the mentorship moved online starting in Spring 2020 through Spring of 2021. The first online event which was held was a fun game of CoEnv Jeopardy which showed that despite the move online, the program could still create fun opportunities for people to connect.
Year 2!
Despite everything remaining remote in the fall, the mentorship program was able to expand to almost 80 participants, with representatives from every department on campus. Coming together for a wonderful online kickoff event.
2021
Alumni Networking & Professional Development Night
Looking to diversify its programming the mentorship program hosted a College of the Environment Alumni Networking & Professional Development Night. It was a fun filled evening of small breakout rooms with College alumni with a wide range of experience and professions, and an insightful workshop led by the campus career..Read More