Communications Mentor Program

The Mentor Program The Mentor Program is a required assignment for Communications students in a group of pre-selected courses. The assignment lasts one semester, but mentor relationships often continue beyond the students academic experience. Approximately 160 professionals have volunteered to be a part of the mentoring program. We expect those numbers to grow with time. The Mentor Programs matching process creates a mutually beneficial relationship between students and mentors. The Right Match Strong mentoring relationships start with the right match. Students select mentors within their emphasis based on similar areas of interest. This self-selecting process, is a key to successful mentoring partnerships. Because students have different interests and can select mentors according to areas of expertise, not all mentors are used every semester. STUDENT RESPONSIBILITES The student makes initial contact to ensure that the mentors information is correct and that he or she will be available throughout the semester. This contact must be a two-way communication (i.e., phone conversation or email sent and replied to.) The student completes three assignments with the mentor: Career Advice, Understanding the Career, and Balance, Ethics and Etiquette. Students report on each assignment completed. Interaction need not be limited to this listcreativity is encouraged. The more real world exposure a mentor can provide, the more valuable the mentor experience will be. MENTOR RESPONSIBILITIES The mentor responds to the students initial contact to establish his or her availability. The mentor completes three assignments with the student. At the end of the semester, the mentor reviews the students responses for accuracy and provides students and course feedback, which usually takes about five minutes to complete. The mentors feedback and the students assignment write-ups are used to determine the students grade. Mentor feedback not only contributes to student evaluations but also to the improvement of the Mentor Program. Feedback is provided by email at the end of the semester.

Communications Mentor Program

For specific questions please contact: Jacey Carpenter, Outreach Coordinator Office: 263 BRMB Phone: (801) 422-4510 Email: jacey@byu.edu Purpose The purpose of the Mentor Program is to provide Communications students with the opportunity to interact with professionals in the student's area of interest and for the student to learn from the perspective of a business professional. During the course, the student will have the opportunity to interact with the mentor in an interview experience and be able to discuss various topics with the mentor. Although each student's mentor may offer networking possibilities for jobs, it should be noted that jobs may not be petitioned by the student directly. To learn about the recent experiences of comms students who have benefitted from the mentoring program, read the latest issue of the departments annual report, found here: http://nn.byu.edu/pdf/2011-commsmag.pdf Requirements Select your mentor from the list provided. Make initial contact with your mentor by September 21 to ensure that your mentor's information is correct and that he/she will be available to assist you during the semester. Please note that this contact must be a two-way communication (i.e. phone conversation or email sent and replied to). Complete the following 3 assignments in any order: o Career Advice o Understanding the Career o Balance, Ethics and Etiquette. The assignments and final report will be the primary determination of the student's grade for this assignment. If the mentor agrees, students are strongly encouraged to make additional contacts and perform more of the assignments than those required. Deadlines for fall 2011: 9/6/11 First Day to sign up for a mentor 9/14/11 Last day to sign-up 9/21/11 Last day to make first contact Make the first contact with your mentor to insure that your mentor's information is correct and that he/she will be available to assist you during the semester. Please note that this contact must be a two-way communication (i.e. phone conversation or email sent and replied to). 9/28/11 Last day to request a mentor change A mentor change will be made only if you are unable to make contact

10/14/11 10/28/11 11/11/11 11/18/11

with your original mentor. Contact the departments mentor program advisor, Jacey Carpenter to make a change: Jacey@byu.edu First Assignment Due Second Assignment Due Third Assignment Due Last Day to submit feedback

Plan ahead sufficiently to allow your mentor to service your needs. If you experience any difficulties in contacting your mentor, contact your instructor first, or mentor program advisor Jacey Carpenter as soon as possible so that we may help you to enjoy this opportunity. Please remember that we are here to help you. Do not hesitate to talk with us about any problems you may be experiencing with your mentor. Etiquette Hints for Students Address mentor as Mr. or Ms. during the first contact. The student may then ask how he/she prefers to be addressed. Begin first contact by clearly introducing yourself and identifying yourself as the student matched to the mentor. Ask the mentor for direction as to future contacts. Should contacts be made at the office or home? When are the best times? Should appointments be made? Think before making contacts. Have clearly in mind what you would like to work on with the mentor. Have valid questions or discussion topics. The mentor has valuable knowledge, so tap into it. RELAX. The mentors are nice people who want to help students. Make this an enjoyable experience. Remember to express appreciation to the mentor. Thank you notes are important. Act in a professional manner and represent the Department of Communications and your fellow students well. This relationship is good practice for future professional contacts. Practice good manners and proper etiquette. Frequently Asked Questions Does the location of my mentor matter? o No. Many of the mentors are out of state and the assignments can be completed via phone. Do I need to contact my mentor first, or will the Mentor Program? o The student should contact their mentor first. The Mentor Program will contact them later in the course. Whats the best way to make first contact with my mentor? o E-mail is usually the best way to make first contact. However, if your mentor does not reply within a few days, try calling them at work and/or home. You should try all of the contact information that your

mentor has provided before you contact the office to change mentors. My mentor is unavailable/cannot participate this semester. How do I get a new mentor? o Contact your instructor or Jacey Reynolds and we can help you. Do I have to use a mentor from the list, or may I find my own? o We encourage you to select a mentor from the database. If you have extenuating circumstances contact your instructor. Is there a midterm or a final? o No. You only have to complete the 3 assignments and provide your feedback. Do I have to do the assignments in any particular order? o No. You may complete the 3 assignments in any order you choose. My mentor missed our assignment appointment and is now out of town until after the deadline. What should I do? o Contact your instructor or Jacey Carpenter and we can help you. What feedback will my mentor give to the program? o Mentors are encouraged to comment on your assignments as well as your overall preparedness and professionalism. They are also asked for general suggestions on how to improve the course.

Student-Mentor Assignments Assignment #1 Career Advice Objectives: Understanding career options and career paths in the mentor's field. Understanding the kind of work the mentor is involved in. Topics For Discussion: Types of jobs Communications graduates may typically get in the field. What career path has the mentor followed to get to the current position? o What career positions he or she has held? o Where does the mentor see his or her career going in the future? What recommendations would the mentor give to someone seeking a career in his or her area? How important is a graduate degree for a position in the field? o What kind of graduate degree would be most beneficial? o When is the right time to pursue a graduate degree? Where does the mentor suggest I turn for more information about the field? o Industry websites o Other key contacts Pre-work: 1. Research the job and company of your mentor (i.e. visit company website, read articles, etc.) 2. Create your own question list for mentor discussion Student Response 1. Did you have the Career Advice discussion? Yes No 2. Describe the three most important things you learned from this exercise. (1 paragraph minimum)

3. What new actions are you going to take based on what you learned from your mentor? (1 paragraph minimum)

Assignment #2 Understanding the Career Objectives: Gain an overview of business organization and strategic issues. Topics For Discussion: What are the mentors key responsibilities in his or her current position? o How does he or she spend most of his or her time? o What are the primary sources of job satisfaction for the mentor? o What does he or she not like about his or her current career position? What is the main role and purpose of the mentors functional unit within the firm? o How does he or she add value to the mission of the firm? What are the future trends in this industry? o What does the future of this industry look like? o What are some core principles that are constant amidst the winds of change? What are the challenges facing the industry? o What is the your organizations strategy for addressing these challenges? o How can I better prepare for these challenges? Pre-work: 1.Research the industry your mentor works in. Student Response 1. From what you know now about the industry, how will you prepare differently to succeed when working? (1 paragraph minimum) 2. If you had 15 minutes with the CEO of your mentor's company what would you suggest they do differently? (1 paragraph minimum) Assignment #3 Understanding Ethics and Management Objectives: Discuss business ethics and etiquette. Understand lifestyle and career management within the field. Topics For Discussion: How has the mentor balanced career, family, and church responsibilities? o How much travel has he or she done in his or her career? o What are the typical time demands required in their field? o What types of sacrifices has he or she had to make for his or her career? o Given his or her commitment to church and family needs, how has he or she been viewed among business peers? o What has he or she learned to do to keep family, church, and career responsibilities balanced? What types of ethical issues has the mentor encountered in his or her career

experience? o How are these best handled? o How frequently do ethical problems arise? What suggestions do they have for handling business etiquette and protocol? o Dining and cocktail party etiquette o Appropriate topics of conversation o Phone vs Email communication o Business recreation (for example, golf) Pre-work: 1.List potential lifestyle/career/ethical management challenges you might face. Student Response 1. What good strategies did you learn for dealing with ethical dilemmas and how will you prepare for those situations? (1 paragraph minimum) 2. What keys did you discover for maintaining a balanced lifestyle? (1 paragraph minimum)
Many thanks to the BYU Business School Management Mentoring Program for their resources in creating this mentoring program.

The Mentors Guide To Mentoring at the Communications Department

MENTOR PROGRAM The Mentor Program is a required assignment for Communications students in a group of pre-selected courses. The assignment lasts one semester, but mentor relationships often continue beyond the students academic experience. Approximately 160 professionals have volunteered to be a part of the mentoring program. We expect those numbers to grow with time. The Mentor Programs matching process creates a mutually beneficial relationship between students and mentors. The Right Match Strong mentoring relationships start with the right match. A database enabling students to select mentors based on similar areas of interest facilitates successful mentoring partnerships. Because students have different interests and can select mentors according to areas of expertise, not all mentors are used every semester. MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL Mentors Students arent the only beneficiaries of mentoring. The Mentor Program is a way to stay in touch with the BYU Communications School and their students, says Gary Dixon, President of The Foundation for a Better Life in Denver. Although the purpose is not to find recruits, it provides a chance to see great candidates. Its also rewarding to work with students so anxious to do well in their chosen professions. There is also the potential for reverse mentoring, where you could learn from students pertaining to the latest new media channels. Students The Mentor Program gives students the opportunity to interact with professionals in their areas of interest and to benefit from the mentors experiences and expertise. Because mentors offer industry-specific resume and interview assistance, students gain insight that academic course work does not offer. TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE MENTORING Put in the time o Several brief contacts can often be more beneficial than one long, intensive appointment. Its important to make contact at least once a monthby email, phone, or in person. Once rapport with the student has been established, the mentor and student should decide how the mentoring relationship is going to proceed. Expectations about frequency and type of contact should be discussed and outlined. A structured beginning will help the mentor relationship succeed, even if meetings eventually become informal. If the student is stuck, provide direction and offer advice o Give specific advice when it is appropriate. Then ask: How do you think my advice would apply to your situation? The goal is for

students to create their own outcomes. Handled well, advice can be your most appropriate and valuable response. Dont fall into the trap of being the answer person with the golden piece of advice o One of the most important goals of a mentor is to help students develop independent thinking skills. Let the mentee do some preliminary thinking by him or herself. Then ask questions such as: What factors are important here? Put yourself in the students shoes o Dont assume the student has an understanding about how your industry works. Help them get a clearer perspective on what you do and how you do it. Do what is asked of youwithin reason o An effective mentor provides the relationship that the student is seeking. That may be a listening ear or specific feedback on a project. Help the students review the goals and make suggestions on how they can achieve those goals.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITES The student makes initial contact to ensure that the mentors information is correct and that he or she will be available throughout the semester. This contact must be a two-way communication (i.e., phone conversation or email sent and replied to.) The student completes three assignments with the mentor: Career Advice, Understanding the Career, and Balance, Ethics and Etiquette. Students report on each assignment completed. Interaction need not be limited to this listcreativity is encouraged. The more real world exposure a mentor can provide, the more valuable the mentor experience will be. MENTOR RESPONSIBILITIES The mentor responds to the students initial contact to establish his or her availability. The mentor completes three assignments with the student. At the end of the semester, the mentor reviews the students responses for accuracy and provides students and course feedback, which usually takes about five minutes to complete. The mentors feedback and the students assignment write-ups are used to determine the students grade. Mentor feedback not only contributes to student evaluations but also to the improvement of the Mentor Program. Feedback is provided by email at the end of the semester. VOLUNTEER INFORMATION If you know friends or colleagues who might be interested in sharing their wisdom and experience with students, please invite them to volunteer as a Communications Department mentor. Who to Contact Questions, problems, or concerns can be directed to the Mentor

Program Advisor, Jacey Carpenter, at (801) 422-4510 or jacey@byu.edu