Why was the VISION Mentoring Program started?
The VISION Mentoring Program was started as a result of the distressing statistics of African-American retention at Wright State University. In a meeting with then president of WSU, Dr. Harley E. Flack, students expressed a need to be mentored by other students who would encourage them, offer them assistance through their first-year at WSU and help get them involved
in activities at Wright State University.
Who participates in the VISION Mentoring Program?
This mentoring program recruits first-year African-American students as mentees and upper-classmen
as mentors. African-American student leaders are encouraged to participate as
mentors also.
What are the benefits of participating in the VISION Mentoring Program?
There are numerous benefits of participating as either a mentee or a mentor. Some of the more tangible benefits include:
* Meeting other African-American students
* Developing friendships
* Connecting to professional individuals in your selected field.
* Connecting with to African-American faculty and staff
* Discovering additional support services
Will my grades improve if I participate in the VISION Mentoring Program?
The VISION Mentoring Program will provide additional support for classes to help with understanding and success. However, students need to remember that academic success is a result of:
* Attending classes regularly
* Reading the assigned material
* Completing the homework
* Asking questions during classes
* Talking to the professor
* Studying daily
Note: Ultimately, you are solely responsible for how you perform in your classes.
As an adult, you need to take responsibility for your performance. Remember
that your mentor can not ensure anything, nor make you do anything.
What are the expectations of being a mentor?
The peer mentor will assist first-year students with their academic excellence
by acting as a "Big brother/sister", sharing with them all of the
ins and outs about college survival, and giving them guidance when necessary.
The peer mentor should provide other contacts for the mentees, to aid them
in building a network on campus. The peer mentors will share their personal
college experience and how it has helped them achieve their academic goals.
They will share information about applying to their majors and give advice
on how to select their classes. In addition to the above expectations, the
peer mentors should stay in contact with their mentees at least twice a week.
In summary, there is no expectation that first-year students will share the
same views and opinions as their peer mentors. The mentoring relationship is
a chance to learn from one another and to become open-minded about different
perspectives from other peers. It is a two-way relationship.
What are the expectations of being a mentee?
First-year students will be committed to the mentoring relationship. They
will discuss their needs and expectations with their peer mentors and work
with them to establish goals for their relationships. The first-year students
will be ready and willing to respond honestly to questions that the peer mentor
asks and have ideas about how the peer mentor can assist them in best ways. First-year
students can serve as a resource for the mentor, providing the mentor with
new perspectives about his/her work. The students will be respectful to their
peer mentor’s time and notify him/her if they are unable to attend scheduled
meetings, study tables, events, etc.
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