Meeting Goals

Get to know your mentee a little, have them get to know you too, and then complete the mentoring agreement. 

Introductions & Get to know You Activity!

Before you get started on the getting to know you activity (below), tell the mentee a little bit about you such as:

• Your name and preferred pronouns

• Where you grew up

• A little about your family (as much as you're comfortable sharing .i.e. do you have siblings? Are you the oldest? Youngest? Do you have other siblings who have gone/are going to college?)

• Something you like to do on your free time (i.e. a hobby and/or pass time. For Veronica I would say -- I love to watch TV! I have all the platforms, Netflix, Hulu, Disney, etc.) 

• When you attended Big Bend and when you graduated

• Where you're attending now, when you started attending, and what degree you're pursing

Then, go through the Getting to know you activity together. Please note you don't have to answer all of the questions, but try to get to as many as you can that can give you a good foundation as to who your mentee is and what they're interests are. As the mentee is answering questions, think about how you would answer some of these questions and if the opportunity presents itself, share if this aligns or does not align with you. Think conversation! 

For example, if you like the same type of food, say so! If you are sports rivals, let them know :P 

As they're talking take notes on your end for future reference. These notes don't need to be turned in, but they will be helpful for you in remembering about their interests and who they are the next time you meet. 

Then answer the following questions:

• Do you have a great skill that you have used to be successful or work through challenging times? How can you use this skill at school?

• At the end of the year, what do you want your story to be?

• How will you manage your time to create a balance between school and work, family, other responsibilities? What is your strategy?

Similar to the notes you're taking from the "Get to Know You" activity, you don't have to turn in these notes, but please take notes and save them in a central  location. Reflect and think. What would work best for me?

• Do I want to take handwritten notes? If so, do I need one notebook? One notebook/binder for each mentee? 

• Or am I taking notes on an electronic device? How am I organizing these documents? One ongoing Word Doc/OneNote? Or a folder per student and I'll add all notes there? 

Having your files in a central location will help you remember about your mentee, which will help you in the relationship building. In addition, this information will be helpful when you fill out your weekly log. 

Finally, complete the Mentoring Agreement

Discuss and complete the STEM Peer-Mentor Agreement document below. This document outlines roles and expectations for mentors and mentees, outlines your meeting schedule, and lists contract agreements for participating in the program. In addition, this document will outline the dates for upcoming meetings and the format. Mentees and mentors should sign and email this to TRIO_SSS@bigend.edu to email this document to all TRIO SSS staff.  

How to prepare

1. Read the entire document. Does everything make sense? Do you have any questions? If you do, contact TRIO staff! See training/resources for contact information. 

2. Recall that at the time of the official meeting you are reading the document in its entirety. 

   • Read first the  definitions and the disclosure statement then stop. Ask if they have any questions. If mentee does, answerer them. If you do not know the answer, let them know you will ask a TRIO staff member about that and then get back to them by the next meeting. 

   • Then, read the directions. Again, ask if they have any questions. Proceed accordingly. Remember, this document does need to be filled out and turned in so you should have it downloaded and you will be responsible for filling out the responses to the questions. Email the completed copy to TRIO_SSS@bigbend.edu. 

3. The fillable questions.

   • Name/pronouns. You start our first. Say your name and then... my preferred pronouns are... (then have the mentee go). 

   • Busyness question. Think, what would you prefer? Come to the meeting with some thoughts in mind. If the mentee needs to reschedule, should they call you? Text you? Email you? If a meeting is cancelled, how do you reschedule? Are you emailing them? Calling them? Texting them? As the mentor you take the lead on the rescheduling, but you should know how a mentee wants you to contact them to reschedule. 

   • Contact outside of meeting time. Think about your life. What makes the most sense? A call where the mentee leaves a voicemail and then you call back? Is it a text that you respond to when you can? Or can they message you on social media? Will you connect through social media? If so, is this your formal way of communicating? Or is social media more of another way to stay in general touch? 

   • How you're meeting. What platform works best for you? Is there something you're already comfortable using and/or that you have access to? Consider: Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, FaceTime. 

     • Tip! If you're using Zoom you can use your personal meeting room and/or the same Zoom link every time -- just set up your meeting . If you're meeting on Google you can also use the same link for 90 days. This means you'll have to make a new link approximately once per quarter. 

   • Addressing conflict. Prior to the conversation, reflect. How do you normally address conflict? Would this method work in this situation? Do you need to do something different? 

     • Tip: You should maybe talk about how you deal with conflict and then ask the mentee to do the same. If they align, great. Confirm the approach. If they don't see if there is a way you can compromise. The more specific you can be, the better! Always appropriate: asking outside resources for help such as a TRIO staff member. 

4. The meeting dates.

   • Before your meeting check your calendar and already have some proposed dates within the given meeting timeframe. Then, you can check your availability against the mentee's to set a meeting date/time and format. 

5. The contract. 

   • Read the contract in its entirety starting with the directions and then one bullet point at a time. If you agree say out loud yes,  I agree. Then have the mentee also verbally agree. Then add your initials in the appropriate place. Finally, print your names and then date/sign.

     • Remember! You submit this document to TRIO_SSS@bigbend.edu. 

Meeting conclusion

• Let them know it was nice to meet them and that you're excited to work with them

• Remind them of when you are meeting next and how you will meet

• Thank the mentee for meeting with you and end the meeting