Back to Basics: Old-School Mentoring in the TikTok Age-Webinar Recording

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In this video, Elvia Aguilar, the Executive Director of Alumni Engagement at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, discusses their mentor program. The program aims to connect alumni with students and provide mentorship in various areas, such as career guidance and life skills. The program started with a phased approach, initially focusing on 10 board members who volunteered as mentors. The program has since expanded, and they now recruit mentors and mentees through social media ads, staff referrals, and word of mouth. They interview students to assess their readiness for mentorship and match them with suitable alumni mentors. The mentors and mentees then sign a communication agreement and set three goals to achieve during the program. The program includes a kickoff event and regular check-ins to ensure the relationship is progressing well. They have had positive feedback from both mentors and mentees and have seen good student engagement. The program's budget is around $4,000 per year, with the bulk of the funds allocated for printing materials and catering for in-person events. Aguilar believes that the program could be expanded further, and they are open to fundraising opportunities or partnerships with organizations interested in supporting their initiative.

Keywords

mentor program

career guidance

alumni mentors

student engagement

communication agreement

kickoff event

fundraising opportunities