Social Work Alumni Association (SWAA) Spring 2023 Mentoring Program Handbook

SOCIAL WORK ALUMNI ASSOCIATION (SWAA)

S P RING 2023 ME N T O R I N G P ROGRAM HANDBO OK

OVERVIEW The Social Work Alumni Association (SWAA) AlumniStudent 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 to help the mentee work toward their future professional goals.

Mentors and mentees are paired from January 2023 to May 2023. Mentors and mentees should develop a working relationship and must interact often enough to complete all program milestones, or 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.

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

GUIDELINES GENERAL

ALUMNI MENTORS

1. Due to the nature of the relationship, as specified in the program applications and Mentor/Mentee Agreement Form, all interactions between alumni mentors and student mentees should be treated with confidentiality.

1. The role of the alumni mentor is to provide support for a current student in working toward their future professional goals. This can include giving the student mentee a realistic view of the profession as well as your personal social work story/experience.

2. Mentors and mentees may utilize any appropriate communication mechanism (e.g., Wildcat Network message, email, phone call, text message) and meeting modality (e.g., inperson, Wildcat Network video message, Zoom, phone call). Shared expectations regarding communication and meetings must be agreed upon during the pair’s first meeting and then formally documented via the Mentor/Mentee Agreement Form.

2. Interact regularly with your student mentee as agreed upon in the Mentor/Mentee Agreement Form.

3. The program is intended for students to connect with alumni to receive support for their future professional goals but should not be used as a mechanism for job searching. While the student mentee may ask for advice or guidance regarding job searching (e.g., practice areas), they should not attempt to utilize the program for the purpose of finding a job.

4. Mentoring relationships are not to be used for field education purposes. If a student mentee needs field education, they should contact the College of Social Work’s field education program.

5. The College of Social Work will not reimburse program participants for expenses incurred (e.g., mileage, meals).

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Social Work Alumni Association (SWAA)

3. Consider connecting your student mentee with others in your professional network.

4. In addition to the required program milestones, alumni mentors are encouraged to share information regarding networking or other appropriate opportunities with student mentees, including informing them of social work-related lectures, conferences, workshops, or events.

STUDENT MENTEES 1. Interact appropriately and professionally with your alumni mentor, including taking initiative to establish initial communication, being respectful and on time to all meetings, and preparing an agenda in advance of each meeting to include questions or topics you would like to discuss.

2. Interact regularly with your alumni mentor as agreed upon in the Mentor/Mentee Agreement Form.

3. Be proactive in seeking support from your alumni mentor related to academic and career development.

4. Be open to learning from your alumni mentor, including receiving constructive feedback.

SCHEDULE OF PROGRAM MILESTONES Completion of program milestones should occur by the corresponding due date and must be logged in Wildcat Network.

Each month, pairs who complete all milestones due during that month and log completion of such in Wildcat Network will be entered to win College of Social Work swag

MILESTONE

NOTES

WHO

DUE DATE

Review assigned pairing

Log-in to Wildcat Network account required.

Alumni mentor AND student mentee

Jan. 6, 2023

Student mentee to initiate contact with alumni mentor

Should include sharing contact information and scheduling first meeting.

Student mentee must Jan. 13, 2023 reach out to alumni mentor for initial contact

MEETING 1

Agenda (prepared by student mentee and shared with alumni mentor in advance of the meeting) should include: Get acquainted Discussion/decisions regarding shared expectations as required for Mentor/Mentee Agreement Form, including: • Set goals for program, informed by the student mentee’s future professional goals • Plan which supplementary activity will be participated in during the program (see “Possible Supplementary Activities” in program handbook) • Establish shared expectations regarding communication • Schedule Meeting 2 Submission should document all shared expectations established during Meeting 1.

Copies of submission will be sent to alumni mentor and student mentee.

Alumni mentor AND student mentee

Jan. 31, 2023

Student mentee must submit the form on behalf of the pairing

Jan. 31, 2023

MEETING 2

Agenda (prepared by student mentee and shared with alumni mentor in advance of the meeting) should include: Work toward program goals Participate in productive discussions (see “Possible Discussion Topics” in program handbook) Schedule Meeting 3

Alumni mentor AND student mentee

Feb. 28, 2023

MEETING 3

Agenda (prepared by student mentee and shared with alumni mentor in advance of the meeting) should include: Work toward program goals Participate in productive discussions (see “Possible Discussion Topics” in program handbook) Schedule Meeting 4 Agenda (prepared by student mentee and shared with alumni mentor in advance of the meeting) should include: Work toward program goals Participate in productive discussions (see “Possible Discussion Topics” in program handbook) Schedule Meeting 5

Alumni mentor AND student mentee

Mar. 31, 2023

Alumni mentor AND student mentee

Apr. 30, 2023

Agenda (prepared by student mentee and shared with alumni mentor in advance of the meeting) should include: Work toward program goals Participate in productive discussions (see “Possible Discussion Topics” in program handbook)

Alumni mentor AND student mentee

May 31, 2023

Submit Mentor/ Mentee Agreement Form

MEETING 4

MEETING 5

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Spring 2023 Mentoring Program Handbook

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MILESTONE

NOTES

WHO

DUE DATE

Supplementary activity

See “Possible Supplementary Activities” in program handbook.

Can occur at any time during the pairing, in addition to or during Meetings 1-5.

Alumni mentor AND student mentee

May 31, 2023

Complete postprogram survey

This should be completed following Meeting 5.

Alumni mentor AND student mentee

June 15, 2023

POSSIBLE DISCUSSION TOPICS Academic and campus involvement

• Job market trends

Career exploration

• Licensure

• Student mentee’s professional goals

Professionalism (e.g., etiquette, attire)

• Alumni mentor’s personal career path and experience

Approaches to ethical/professional dilemmas

• Types of positions • Types of agencies / organizations / employers and organizational culture

Current/future trends/challenges in the field Networking Time management

• Job search tips

Goal setting

• Job search documents (e.g., resume, cover letter)

Online/social media etiquette

• Interview practice • Evaluating job offers

Professional development (professional organizations, recommended information/news sources, continuing education, etc.)

• Types of graduate degree programs

Self-care/mental health

• What a “typical” day is like

POSSIBLE SUPPLEMENTARY ACTIVITIES Informational interview with colleague(s) of mentor

Role play potential professional scenarios

Meet in person (if feasible based on geographic location) for coffee or meal

Read and discuss a book, essay, or article

Community service Networking (when possible / appropriate) Workplace site visit / job shadow (when possible / appropriate)

Preparation for job seeking (e.g., review application materials, mock interview, etc.)

Participate in and discuss social work-related events (e.g., conference, lecture)

Should you have any questions regarding the SWAA Alumni-Student Mentoring Program, please contact Anna Chalfant, Director of Strategic Operations

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Social Work Alumni Association (SWAA)