Alumni Mentoring Program
The College of Nursing Mentoring Program connects nursing students and alumni by matching students with professionals in their area of interest who can offer advice and information about career options or other issues relevant to nursing.
The mentoring program is open to all alumni and current students of the College of Nursing, as well as to Penn State alumni working in nursing-related fields.
The application period is currently closed. Matching is taking place in June and alumni-protégé pairs will be notified in mid-late July if they have been selected. There is a Kick-Off Luncheon, Saturday, October 6th at the Nittany Lion Inn. This is a great opportunity for everyone to meet at least one time. There will be a student orientation on September 18, 2018 in the evening that is mandatory for all students to attend.
Eligibility
If you are an alumna/alumnus of the College of Nursing, or any Penn State alumna/alumnus working in a nursing-related field, then you are eligible to mentor a student. Once we receive your application, we will match you with a student whose interests closely match your professional experience. You will be assigned a student with junior or senior standing so that your mentoring partnership can remain throughout the student’s junior and senior years.
The only requirement is that you attend a Mentoring Kickoff Luncheon on October 6, 2018 and participate in an online orientation program in September. At the luncheon you will have the opportunity to meet your student protégé in person, learn more about the mentoring program, and work with your protégé to develop goals and action steps for participation in the program.
The application period will re-open in April 2019. Please check-in at that time for the application.
Alumni Application
If you would like to be considered as a mentor, and missed the application deadline, please contact Kim Woodward, assistant director of alumni relations, at 814-863-4039 or kms40@psu.edu. You will be placed in a reserve list should there be a need for additional mentors.
Student Application
The application period is now closed. If you missed the deadline to apply (May 31, 2018) and would like to be considered, please contact Kim Woodward, assistant director of alumni relations, 814-863-4039 or kms40@psu.edu.
If you have any questions, please contact Kim Woodward, assistant director of alumni relations, 814-863-4039 or kms40@psu.edu.
FAQs
Students: Why Participate?
What is life like after college? What will I do after I graduate? How can I ensure that I have the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed after graduation?
An alumni mentor can help you with many of the questions you may have about your education and future career. Alumni mentors serve as a guide, answering questions, giving advice, and helping you to learn more about your field of interest and about yourself.
How can I enroll in the program?
If you are a student in the College of Nursing who will be a junior or senior in Fall 2018, then you are eligible to participate in the mentoring program. The application period for 2018-19 is now closed, please check back in April 2019 for the next year’s form. If you are accepted into the program, we will match you with an alumni mentor whose professional experiences closely match your interests (as best we can). It is expected that your mentoring partnership will continue through your senior year (or until graduation). You are required to participate in an in-person training on September 18, 2018 (there will be a location in Hershey and one in University Park) and encouraged to attend the Mentoring Program Luncheon (at University Park) on October 6, 2018. At the luncheon you will have the opportunity to meet your mentor in person and work with your mentor to develop goals and action steps for participation in the program.
What should I expect as a participant in the mentoring program?
Regular communication with your mentor will help you to get the most out of the program. You can communicate with your mentor via e-mail, phone, or visits to your mentor’s workplace if your mentor chooses. You may wish to ask your mentor about areas of study, career options, or their career or area(s) of expertise and interest. This is not a job placement program. You should not expect your mentor to offer you employment.