Alumni-Student Mentoring Program

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The Social Work Alumni Association (SWAA) Alumni-Student Mentoring Program matches current College of Social Work students with alumni to promote purposeful one-on-one relationships between members of these populations.

Mentors (College of Social Work alumni) and mentees (current students) will interact during the program to discuss a variety of topics and participate in activities intended help the mentee work toward their academic and career goals.

Mentors and mentees are paired from January 2025 to May 2025. Mentors and mentees should develop a working relationship and must interact often enough to complete all program milestones, which include meeting once per month at a minimum. In order for the college to ensure mentor/mentee matches are progressing appropriately, achievement of program milestones must be logged via Wildcat Network.

Although mentors and mentees may utilize any appropriate communication mechanism (e.g., Wildcat Network message, email, phone call, text message) and meeting modality (e.g., in-person, Zoom, phone call), shared expectations regarding communication and meetings must be agreed upon during the first meeting and formally documented via the Mentor/Mentee Agreement Form.

If desired, mentors and mentees are welcome to stay in contact after the program is officially over.

Who Should Participate?

You should consider applying to be an alumni mentor if:

You are an alumnus of the UK College of Social Work and would like to be more connected to the college.
You want to make a difference in a student’s life and are willing to interact with your student mentee often enough for completion of all program milestones (which include meeting once per month at a minimum) and to provide networking and other opportunities as appropriate.

You should consider applying to be a student mentee if:

You are a current student in the UK College of Social Work.
You want to learn more about your future career, and have the support of a mentor in working toward your future professional goals.
You are willing to interact with your alumni mentor often enough for completion of all program milestones (which include meeting once per month at a minimum).

The application window for the SWAA Alumni-Student Mentoring Program will open again this Fall for Spring 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the time commitment for program participation?

Mentoring pairs must commit to a five-month mentoring relationship, from January 2025 to May 2025.
Alumni mentors and student mentees should develop a working relationship and must interact often enough to complete all program milestones, which include meeting once per month at a minimum. Mentors and mentees may have more contact if agreed upon by the pair. Mentees must log completion of program milestones via Wildcat Network. Pairs will agree upon shared expectations regarding communication and meetings via the Mentor/Mentee Agreement Form.
More specific information regarding program milestones will be provided to mentors and mentees via a program handbook. Each month, pairs who complete all milestones due during that month will be entered to win College of Social Work swag!
In addition to the above-mentioned regular interactions between mentors and mentees, upon conclusion of the program, all participants should complete a post-program survey, responses to which will be taken into consideration for future program planning.

What are the requirements for an alumni mentor?

Alumni mentors must be graduates of a University of Kentucky College of Social Work degree program and must also have, or be willing to establish, a Wildcat Network account.
As well, alumni mentors should want to make a difference in a student’s life, be willing to interact with their student mentee often enough for completion of all program milestones (which include meeting once per month at a minimum) and to provide networking and other opportunities as appropriate.
Those interested in participating as an alumni mentor should complete an application when the application windows opens in Fall 2024 for Spring 2025.

What are the requirements for a student mentee?

Student mentees must be current students in a University of Kentucky College of Social Work degree program and must also have, or be willing to establish, a Wildcat Network account.
As well, student mentees should want to engage with and receive support from an alumni related to the student’s academic and career goals. Student mentees should also be willing to interact with their alumni mentor often enough for completion of all program milestones (which include meeting once per month at a minimum).
Those interested in participating as a student mentee should complete an application when the application window opens in Fall 2024 for Spring 2025.

How are mentoring pairs assigned?

As much as possible, pairings will be assigned, based on information provided via the application process, for alignment of field / specialty of interest and/or academic program experience when possible, but this is not guaranteed.
If members of a mentoring pair do not live in the same geographic area, they should plan to interact electronically (e.g., FaceTime, Zoom, phone, email).
In early December 2024, those who apply to participate in the program will be notified via email regarding the status of their application. Then, mentoring matches must be viewed in Wildcat Network and initial contact initiated by the student mentee.

Is there a cost to participate in the program?

No, the SWAA Alumni-Student Mentoring Program is free. Alumni mentor and student mentee participation is voluntary. Please note that the College of Social Work will not reimburse program participants for expenses incurred (e.g., mileage, meals).

Have a question not listed here? Want to talk with someone about the program?

Contact Seth Bailey, Assistant Director of Strategic Operations.

CoSW

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