Flags - Supporting Participants at the Right Time

What are Flags?

A flag is a challenge or an issue that a mentee is facing in your program. Flags can be tagged with one or more “flag topics” to give you an idea of what the mentee is struggling with (e.g. Academic Struggles, Financial Concerns, etc.). 

Flags are most often reported by a mentee’s mentor, but they may occasionally be reported by a member of the Mentor Collective team if a mentor or mentee raises a concern directly through our helpdesk.

Video Overview

Reporting Flags

How Do Mentors Report Flags?

Mentors can submit flags in two ways:

1. Post-Session Surveys. Mentors can login to their Participant Dashboard and report conversations, including flags, through a short post-session survey. Regarding flags specifically, the survey will ask for the flag topic, additional information or context, and whether immediate support is necessary.
2. Flag Check-Ins. If mentors haven’t completed a post-session survey in a while, Mentor Collective's automated messaging will periodically send a check in via email and text message. Mentors can but may not always provide additional context, beyond the flag topic. 

Identifying Support Priority Status

When flags are reported through the post-session survey, mentors will be asked:

*Instead of "Mentor Collective," it will reference your institution's name. 

• If “Yes” is selected –the flag will be marked with a Support Priority, “Immediate.” 
• If “No” is selected – the flag will be marked with a Support Priority, “Not needed.” 

When reviewing flags in your Partner Dashboard, this Support Priority Status can help you prioritize which flags require immediate attention and should be addressed first. 

What Happens After a Flag is Reported?

Incoming Flag Notification

When a flag is reported, all predetermined flag recipients tied to your program will be alerted via email. You have the option to configure flag notifications and / or recipients.

Mentor Status Updates

Unless your program has opted to not share flag status with mentors, mentors will see a “Flags” page on their Participant Dashboard where they can review the action status of each flag they have reported. This helps mentors have some insight into when and how their concerns for their mentee are being addressed.

Flags In Action

Monitoring & Addressing Incoming Flags 

After each flag notification and / or at a predetermined cadence, institutions can review and process flags on the “Flags” page in their Partner Dashboard. Interventions can then be taken, as needed, in order to best support the mentee and mentor. 

Curious to learn more? Hear how priority flags have created impact for graduate students in our webinar featuring stories from graduate mentorship programs at University of San Diego School of Leadership and Education Sciences, California State Polytechnic University-Pomona, and University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice.

Identifying Trends Across Flags

It’s incredibly important to review each flag on a one-by-one basis, to ensure each mentee is getting the support they need. However, taking a step back and reviewing greater trends within flags can also provide a wealth of information and insights. 

Institutions can review trends in reported flags on the Engagement Tab, on the Dashboard Page in your Partner Dashboard.