Penn Family Resource Center

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Student Parent Mentoring

About Student Parent Mentoring

The Student Parent Mentoring Program promotes and fosters supportive relationships between new and existing student parents within the Penn community.    New and expectant parents are encouraged to navigate the journey of being a scholar and parent with help and advice from students who have gained invaluable insights through their own journeys as student parents. 

Join us!  Student parents from all backgrounds and academic disciplines are welcomed to participate in this program as mentors and mentees.

Participate:

• Student Parent Mentor Application
• Student Parent Mentee Application

Mentoring: Expectations, Tips & Resources

In order for the mentoring relationship to be most successful, we offer the following expectations, tips, and resources for both mentors and mentees.
 
Mentoring Expectations
The Student Parent Mentoring Program has a certain level of minimum participation for both mentors and mentees:
 
Student Parent Mentors are expected to:

• Establish the initial contact with your assigned mentee within one week of receiving your assignment via email. Please copy the Family Resource Center on this initial contact so that we know you got in touch with your mentee.
• Meet in-person with your mentee at least once per semester. To help facilitate these meetings, you can meet at the Family Resource Center (where your children may play together!) or use our Coffee Talk program, which provides $8 gift cards to local coffee shops.
• Maintain regular contact with your mentee (at least two email contacts after your initial in-person meeting), offering support, appropriate advice, and encouragement to your mentee.
• Share stories of past academic and parenting experiences when relevant and valuable, and refer your mentee to outside resources when necessary. See the Penn resources below.
• Focus on supporting and reinforcing your mentee’s strengths. Help bring out the positive and potential inherent in your mentee!
• Participate in an assessment survey at the end of each semester. Feedback from mentors is invaluable in our efforts to enhance the quality of the mentoring program.
• Contact the Family Resource Center with any questions, comments, or concerns.

 
Student Parent Mentees are expected to:

• Respond to the initial contact email from your assigned mentor within a timely fashion.
• Respect your mentor’s time. Remember that they are student parents too and have assignments and deadlines just like you do.
• Have reasonable expectations for what your mentoring relationship will be. Student parent mentors are more than happy to discuss their experiences as they relate to being a student parent.  However, they are not equipped to be your tutor, editor, or personal counselor. If you need assistance in other areas, please refer to the list of resources below.
• Participate in an assessment survey at the end of each semester. Feedback from mentees is invaluable in our assessment efforts to enhance the quality of the mentoring program.
• Contact the Family Resource Center with any questions, comments, or concerns.

 
Mentoring Tips & Resources
Tips on connecting and communicating with success:

• Listening well is perhaps the most important skill one can have. It is a skill that can be learned, practiced, and improved upon. Be mindful of how effectively you are taking in and processing what it is your mentor/mentee is telling you.
• A cornerstone to developing an effective mentoring relationship is the establishment of trust. Trust requires time, patience and commitment. Be honest with your opinions while maintaining sensitivity.

Possible activities for mentor/mentee pairs:

• Meet for coffee or lunch.
• Arrange play dates for your children.
• Go to the library together.
• Review together the Family Resource Center resources webpage.

 
Penn Resources
We realize that mentors may not always know the answers to their mentee’s questions. Please feel free to take advantage of any of the following services at the University:

• The Women’s Center
• Career Services
• Vice Provost for University Life (VPUL)
• Office of International Programs

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