Graduate Student Mentorship Program

The Graduate Student Mentorship Program is a campus-wide, volunteer-based mentorship program specific to graduate students at the University of Wyoming (UW). This program currently resides in the School of Graduate Education. 

Purpose

 The purpose of this program is to create an experience and environment where graduate students feel supported, encouraged, connected, and empowered by faculty, staff, and community partners at UW. This program is a great way for mentees and mentors to network, learn, and grow personally and professionally during their time at the UW.

Goal

This program aims to form mentor partnerships that support eliminating barriers specific to graduate students.

Who

Mentees: All graduate students who have previously earned a bachelor’s degree and are pursuing additional education at the graduate level.  This includes degree-seeking students (masters, PhD), professional students (law, medical, clinical), and certificate-seeking graduate students.
Mentors: UW faculty, staff, and Wyoming community partners.

 

GSMP Main Components

  • Mentor/Mentee meetings: Mentors and mentees are expected to meet once a month for an hour during the semester.
    • Mentorship pairs plan individual meetings (e.g. over Zoom, coffee/lunch, hiking, etc.)
    • Mentorship pairs also choose discussion topics (suggested topics are provided)
  • Whole group meetings: are one hour and held three times a month
    • The purpose of the group meetings is to offer support and provide a space for members to network and build community. 
    • The meetings are a mix of online, in-person, and hybrid.
  • Coordinator Check-In: meet with the coordinator for 15-20 minutes, once a semester
    • The purpose of these check-ins is to facilitiate the sucess of both mentors and mentees in the program.
  • Social events: GSMP hosts events such as coffee hours and potlucks as additional time to network, particularly if you cannot make whole group meetings (resource contingent).

Example Monthly Meeting topics:

  • Program Orientation
  • Getting to Know Each Other
  • Mentorship
  • Mental Health
  • Managing School/Work/Life Balance
  • Life and Stress of Graduate School
  • Restorative Justice Community Building Circle
  • Projects, Theses, Dissertations, and Research
  • Life After Graduate School
  • Passions and Dreams/Uncertainties and Fears
  • Beginning and End of Year Reflections

Fall meeting months: September, October, November, and December December Optional Socials: October & December

Spring meeting months:   February, March, April, and May Optional Socials: March & May

 

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GSMP Main Components

Applying:

If you are interested in becoming a part of GSMP, follow the link to complete the survey. This survey will help us pair you with a mentor with mutual interests.  It takes about 10-15 minutes to complete. The more information you provide, the better we can match you with someone.

Please note that we cannot always match you with someone from your department and/or accommodate requests. We ask that you please keep an open mind and be willing to learn and grow with your mentorship pairing. There is something to learn from everyone!

Recruitment Periods:

  • Fall: August (survey opens)
  • Spring: January (survey opens)

Example Survey Questions: 

    1. Why do you want to join this mentorship program?
    2. What skills or abilities do you seek in a mentorship?
    3. What skills or abilities can you bring to a mentorship?
    4. How do you enjoy spending time outside school or work?  Preferred hobbies? Favorite pastimes?

Interest Form

If you want to join GSMP when the survey is closed in the Fall (September-December) and Spring (February-July), please follow the link to the Interest Form. You will be contacted to complete the survey once recruitment periods open.

Confidentiality Element:

GSMP mentorship pair and whole group meetings are confidential. These meetings are safe spaces for mentors and mentees to share their experiences.  Strong relationships are built on trust! We want each of you to feel supported throughout this program.

One exception to this rule: if your mentor/mentee shares something with you that may put them in danger, or is currently endangering them, and/or may create serious harm, you must report it. We are all mandatory reporters in this program! As stated by the Equal Opportunity Report and Response team, you are obligated by policy to share knowledge, notice, and/or reports of harassment, discrimination, and/or retaliation with a Title IX Coordinator here at UW.

Resource for reporting:

Equal Opportunity Report and Response Team

The Equal Opportunity Report and Response (EORR) team states that you are obligated by policy to share knowledge, notice, and/or reports of harassment, discrimination, and/or retaliation with a Title IX Coordinator here at UW.

Resource for conflict: 

The Ombudsman Office

  • The Office of the Student Ombudsman is an independent problem-solving and first-stop resource. This office serves to assist in conflict resolution support and to assist all students (undergraduate, graduate, and professional students) in handling conflicts or complaint processes for any matter of university relations. 
  • The Ombudsman Office provides informal, confidential, impartial, and independent assistance to students (individuals and/or groups) who are experiencing conflicts or who have complaints/ as well as for faculty and staff regarding student related issues.
  • For more information, please email: stombuds@uwyo.edu 

Additional Resources:

Care Coordinators

  • Care Coordinators support students experiencing:
  • academic concerns, personal distress, challenges with social connection and sense of belonging, mental health struggles, medical difficulties
  • They work with students to identify and then remove barriers to their success and increase a student’s holistic well-being while pursuing their academic goals.
  • Care Coordinators focus on a student's unique strengths and collaborate with them to find solutions that help each student meet their goals.
  • Care Coordinators can assist you in connecting to on or off-campus resources for ongoing care. Students who have been released from behavioral health services are encouraged to connect with our office.
  • Contact information: 307-766-3296 or dos@uwyo.edu