Engagement is what brings a program to life. Once participants have been matched, you’ll want to pivot to encouraging participation, as mentors can begin offering guidance and advice, sharing resources, and raising any concerns.
Before launching your program, consider incorporating the following tips to establish a robust foundation of engagement. Additionally, it's important to continuously apply these strategies throughout the program to enhance overall participant involvement.
Consistent Communication
The first step towards fostering engaged mentors is clear communication. Establishing clear expectations in advance and maintaining ongoing communication throughout the program empower mentors to feel well-prepared and enthusiastic about supporting their mentee(s).
- Concisely communicate expectations and standards prior to program launch
- Send messaging aligned with your program's seasonality, such as offering encouragement
- Send emails or newsletters throughout the year with program updates, success stories, conversation ideas, or any goals mentors can focus on
- Recommendation: Set recurring time aside in your schedule to spend on providing program updates.
- Review Southern Methodist University's newsletter here!
- Use multiple touch points across your institution to reach mentors, such as email, social media, and other means of information sharing
- Keep mentors’ needs top of mind when tailoring your messaging
Regular and thoughtful communication to your mentors will help them feel that they are part of a community, and help keep their mentorship participation high on their list of priorities.
Sense of Community
Take the opportunity to bring your mentors together. Virtual meetups, in-person events, or other scenarios can be extremely beneficial in creating community between mentors. It’s important to give mentors a platform to ask questions, express frustrations, and share wins about their experiences. Additionally, they can learn from each other and you when there is a sense of community surrounding the program.
- Virtual or in-person events for mentors
- Q+A or feedback sessions
- Feature previous highly engaged mentors and their tips and tricks
Learn more about best practices for events here.
Mentors who feel that they are part of a community are going to share in that enthusiasm and engage more authentically with their mentee(s).
Institutional Integration
Building a culture of mentorship at your institution can have long-term effects on the success of your program. If you can integrate the program into more existing events and programs, this will create a recognition and natural avenue to recruitment. Some popular examples include:
- Orientation events
- Advising appointments
- Required first-year courses
- Residence Assistant Training
- Campus fairs, such as career, student activities, or study abroad fairs
- Sign-up events, such as Greek life or intramural sports
Participating in key milestones in a student's journey will yield continued returns on a culture of mentorship across campus.
Clear Benefits
There are so many benefits to mentorship, beyond the impact mentors have on their mentees, and it can be important to remind mentors that they are benefiting from volunteering. Depending on your institution, there may be various benefits to prioritize highlighting:
- LinkedIn badge for completed mentor training
- Point or reward system for each conversation logged or each mentee supported
- Example: swag, meal swipe, bookstore credits, etc.
- Resume & interview talking points around mentorship, problem solving, and interpersonal skills
- Volunteer opportunity for service hours
Learn more about recommended incentives here.
Providing and clearly identifying benefits enhances the likelihood of retaining experienced and effective mentors.
Recognition & Appreciation
Don’t forget that mentors need to be celebrated and recognized for their work. There are a myriad of ways to do this, depending on the institution:
- Showing public appreciation and recognition of the work of your mentors
- Give mentees the opportunity to celebrate and praise their mentor
- Hold events for mentors at the end of the year to recognize their efforts
- Thank mentors for the time and dedication, and invite them to participate again
- Develop awards for year-end recognition ceremonies
- Offer networking opportunities with important leadership on campus
- Graduation cords to acknowledge mentors who consistently participated
When mentors feel valued, they are more likely to continue their involvement, contributing to the stability and continuity of the mentorship program.
Encouraging mentor participation helps foster a positive and supportive program culture at your institution. When mentors are actively involved, it sets a precedent for a collaborative and enthusiastic community within your mentorship program.
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