Purpose: Create a network of alumni to provide opportunities for alumni, faculty, staff and students to interact with one another through networking, conversations, job shadowing, internships, presentations and other forms of information sharing.

How the Program Works

· The Alumni Relations Office and Career Services Office will solicit alumni volunteers on an ongoing basis to serve as a DC Alumni Network Mentor

· Interested alumni will be asked to complete an on-line mentoring application. Once the application is completed, alumni will be entered into a database of mentors. (Always facilitated and screened by the Career Services Office). 

· The Alumni Relations Office and Career Services Office will promote the interaction between students, mentors, and campus staff

Job Description

Alumni mentors can help students advance in their career development by providing information, career guidance and professional support. This support can help students throughout their planning and decision making processes through their first job and beyond.

As a graduate of Defiance College who has experience with real-word forces, you have a lot of information to offer DC students. Sharing your experience can inspire our students to keep reaching for their goals. You can also serve as a great source of practical, concrete advice on how to use and build on a Defiance College education to succeed in a particular field.

Mentors should be committed to developing supportive relationships with Defiance College students and staff.

Responsibilities:

· Respond as a mentor to a Defiance College student when called upon according to the parameters you have outlined in your application process

For Example: You agreed to read resumes of students in your chosen area of expertise

For Example: You agreed to be available for any student consultation. So a student calls you to ask if you could give them advice on what parts of your town would be good sections to live in since they are moving to your area post graduation.

· Respond as a mentor beyond the initial relationship parameters (only if you wish to do so) to develop a longer term working relationship with an individual student

For Example: In reviewing a student's resume and giving them helpful feedback they ask you if you would continue to be available for support and advice for their interview processes. While you didn't sign up for that specific task you now agree to do so.

For Example: A student, using your advice on searching for apartments, notifies you that they found a place to stay. You feel comfortable enough to then invite the relocated student for lunch to build a DC alumni connection, including mentoring the student to be part of the regional network of alumni in your area.

· Respond to requests from the offices of Alumni Relations and Career Services to assist with presentations, mock-interviews, and other on campus mentoring opportunities

· Respond immediately to the Alumni Relations or Career Services offices should there be any change in your ability to continue serving as a mentor

Policies/Parameters for Information Exchange

The Offices of Alumni Relations and Career Services ask that you follow these guidelines throughout communications with any student.

1. Personal, sensitive information should not be shared between mentor and student.

2. Special problems/situations should promptly be brought to the attention of the Alumni Relations and Career Services offices.

3. Only addresses for college or business purposes should be shared between the mentor and student according to the parameters the mentor outlined in their application.

4. Face-to-face meetings should only take place at the Defiance College campus, mentor's workplace, or in a public space

Commonly Asked Questions:

How often will I be called upon?

Truthfully, not very often. If we have a pool of 500 mentors it is likely that 95% will never be directly contacted by a student. However, part of your sign up process does ask your willingness to be part of several on campus programs as well as internship/co-op programs. These have a much higher rate of participation allowing for mentoring of students.

What happens if my interest in the program changes?

Whether you wish to become more or less involved is strictly up to you. You set the parameters of your involvement and our request is simply that as your interest in participation changes you adjust your mentoring network profile to reflect those changes or you may call the offices of Alumni Relations or Career Service about your preference and we will accommodate them.

How do I sign up?

The first step is to be sure that you are registered on the alumni website which gives you the ability to keep current on all Defiance College information and activities. After registering, you will receive The Stinger e-newsletter. REGISTER ON THE ALUMNI WEBSITE.

After registering on the alumni website you may then click on the menu tab labeled DC MENTORING NETWORK and then follow the directions to sign-up and build your profile, or REGISTER AS A MENTOR here.

You will be notified that you have been accepted into the mentoring program. Remember, you may not hear directly from a student for a long time.

Thank you for taking the time to be part of the National Alumni Mentor Network. You may call Lorie Rath, Assistant Director of Development & Alumni Affairs, at 419-783-2307 or Lisa Marsalek, Director of Career Services, 419.783.2366 for further information.