Roles as a Mentor

A positive mentoring relationship can be a powerful experience for the students and the mentor. Mentoring derives from a caring personal relationship. A mentor is one who acts as a wise and faithful guide offering support, guidance and concrete assistance as the student begins his/her journey through college. The mentor is often perceived by the student as someone with more experience who supports a student to do for him/herself, to strive to attain success.

Mentoring involves dealing with students in terms of their total personality in order to advise, counsel, and guide them. It entails the development of a one-on-one personal relationship that is based on modeling behavior and extended communication between the mentor and the student. Mentors my play many roles including friend, source of information, counselor, advisor and partner. Functioning in the role as a partner, the mentor may assist the student in decision-making, planning for professional and personal goals, and in the resolution of problems or issues in the student's life. The mentor represents a positive model who can assist the student in the achievement of personal and academic goals. Some of the roles mentors play may include:

sponsor, leader, coach, tutor, confidant, master teacher, cultural guide, consultant, campus friend, opener of doors, resource person, sounding board, referral agent, advocate, advisor, and challenger.

Effective mentors are often described as those who:

are receptive	provide a caring presence
listen	are available
challenge	provide structure
provide insight	express positive expectations for the student
help students see themselves in new ways	serve as a sounding board for new ideas
are both part of and apart form the environment of the students
provide a supportive climate in which students may speak freely without the fear of rejection