COE Mentoring Program
Objective:
To increase the enrollment and retention of students from underrepresented groups at the University of Florida and provide a nurturing and supportive academic environment and academic resources.
Process:
The Office of Recruitment, Retention, and Multicultural Affairs can potentially increase the number of minority students that enroll and graduate from the College of Education by implementing programs that are designed to facilitate success for potential underrepresented students. The Office of Recruitment, Retention, and Multicultural Affairs can implement the COE Mentoring Program. It will utilize faculty, staff, and current College of Education students as resources and mentors to facilitate academic success. The program will additionally provide enrichment activities for current Ronald E. McNair Scholars that are enrolled in the College of Education, create a link with Santa Fe Community College's education department, and the local high school Future Educators of America clubs'. The COE Mentoring Program (COEMP) can be a great recruiting tool and retention strategy for potential or current College of Education students.
Plan:
The program will consist of a Program Coordinator that facilitates seminars, networking, and research opportunities for students, faculty, and staff. Each participant will be paired with a faculty or staff member in the College of Education that is currently working in the student's area of interest. The faculty or staff member will have an opportunity to share professional experiences and possible research opportunities for the student that he/she is paired with. Participating students will be required to submit a research paper at the end of the academic year covering their area of interest. Faculty and staff members will also provide constructive feedback regarding the student's progress by completing progress or evaluation forms at the end of each semester. Additionally, graduate students will be paired with undergraduate students to serve as peer mentors.
Activities:
Social and business networking opportunities will be coordinated to provide a neutral atmosphere for the students, faculty or staff member, and members of the community to meet. The meetings will consist of activities that nurture the mentor/mentee relationship. The meetings will also provide an opportunity to prepare the students for the research symposium. The students will meet with the program coordinator in a one on one session each semester to provide an opportunity to discuss academic, professional or personal concerns. The peer mentor relationship will provide additional support and potential guidance for the undergraduate participant. A Campus Tour Day will be established each year for incoming students. Faculty and staff would participate in welcoming the students to UF and to COE. A recognition luncheon will be provided annually to maintain the supportive academic environment. After the recognition luncheon, students will have an opportunity to present their research paper at the COEMP Research Symposium.
Additional Support:
Current Ronald E. McNair Scholars in the College of Education can benefit from participating in the mentoring program. McNair Scholars will have an opportunity to participate in the mentor/mentee relationship. McNair Scholars will also have an opportunity to present their research project locally at the COEMP Research Symposium before they present their research competitively at a national conference.
The program coordinator will establish a linkage with the education department at Santa Fe Community College and the local high school clubs of Future Educators of America. The program coordinator will visit Santa Fe Community College and FEA schools to coordinate recruitment and admissions workshops along with COE admissions coordinator. The program coordinator of the COEMP will also provide include seminars on Microsoft PowerPoint, research methodology and writing, and public speaking skills to enhance their presentation for the national competition. COE Ambassadors, COE Mentoring Program participants, McNair Scholars, or ECC organizations will conduct campus tours for Santa Fe Community College and FEA members. A Campus Tour and Welcome Day will be established at the beginning of each academic year. Faculty and staff will participate in welcoming the students to UF and to COE.
Program Rationale:
The COE Mentoring Program is designed to "enlist experienced college personnel to provide acculturation to academic life, improve the campus climate, enhance the college experience, and increase the academic success" of students from underrepresented groups.
