MANILA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
STUDENT SHEPHERD PROGRAM

INTRODUCTION:

The Student Shepherd Program initiated by the College of Medicine is a student-faculty

mentoring program which gives one-on-one or group sessions between the faculty-
shepherd (mentor) and student-sheep (mentee) which aims to guide and motivate the
students in their curricular activities as well as enhance their intellectual and personal
development and strengthen their formation into well-rounded physicians.

OBJECTIVES:

1. Provide students with the opportunity to personal advising.

2. Allow students to seek assistance in different areas and at various stages of their
academic, personal, and social life in the College of Medicine.
3. Help students reflect upon, assess, evaluate, and integrate their learning skills and
experiences under the guidance of a shepherd/mentor.

STAKEHOLDERS:

Dean’s Office
Medical Education Unit (Faculty Development)
Guidance and Counseling Center
COM Committee on Student Shepherd Program
COM Committee on Student Affairs
COM Committee on Student Discipline
COM Committee on Grievance (Students)
Faculty Staff
Current Students

DEFINITION OF TERMS:

Current Students: refers to existing and currently enrolled students in the College of
Medicine

E-mentoring: the shepherd and the sheep meet via the Internet, i.e. through video calls,
email, instant messaging through viber/whatsapp/telegram).

Group Mentoring: the shepherd meets with several of his/her sheep as group.
Mentoring: guidance system where one person (the shepherd or faculty) imparts their
knowledge, skills, and experiences with another person (the mentee or student).

Shepherd/Mentor: a faculty of the College of Medicine who is responsible for guiding or

mentoring a student (sheep/mentee)

Sheep/mentee: a current medical student in the College of Medicine

CONFIDENTIALITY CLAUSE:

Any information identified and obtained from the sheep and the shepherd during
mentoring or shepherding must be treated with strict confidentiality. All records must
strictly be held confidential as stipulated in the “Data Privacy Act of 2012 (R.A. 10173)
and its Implementing Rules and Regulations. Any information may not be used or
disclosed to another person or to the public without the consent of the concerned to
protect vital important interests, unless the matter poses danger to the person or to
others.

Roles of the Shepherd/Mentor:

 Determine the problems being encountered by the students in terms of their

academic performance, personal, socio-emotional, and other related concerns.
 Share advices, tips, suggestions, and possible solutions to the problem.
 Aid the students in developing insights and help them in formulating their own
action plan.
 Provide all the necessary assistance that may be extended to the students. This
includes proper referral, if necessary.
 Check on the progress of the students and continue providing encouragement
and motivation to ensure the betterment of the students’ welfare.
 Refer the student if a problem needs to be addressed by the Guidance
Counselor and/or by other Specialist.
Roles of Sheep/Mentee

 Sign the Data Privacy Consent Form / Agreement

(Link: https://forms.gle/ioDHAmJXcFzBxNkQA ).
 Meet with their mentors at least two (2) meetings per semester. The required
meet-up will be a pre-requisite for next semester’s enrollment.
 Log in his/her attendance in the link provided for by the Guidance Counselor.
 Evaluate the program and his/her specific Shepherd/Mentor to determine the
program’s effectiveness at the end of the school year.

RULES:

1. Each current student (sheep) will be assigned a Faculty shepherd.

2. The shepherding program may not be gender specific.
3. The student (sheep) can meet his or her mentor at least twice in a semester or as
often as needed.
A. The student has to set an appointment with his or her shepherd.
B. The student has to make sure he/she knows his/her limitations and boundaries
with their shepherd’s time. He/She should make it clear when it is appropriate to
reach out to them, and has to make sure to ask if they have time for a chat
before the sheep makes a call. (M-Th-F: 5-6PM/Weekends)
C. The shepherd and sheep should always follow the scheduled time during
meetings, whether face-to-face or virtual.
D. During meetings or phone calls, the student (sheep) can ask questions and have
ideas for the conversation.
E. There will be a log of all meetings between the shepherd and the sheep (Link to
Consultation Log form of their assigned mentor will be provided by the Guidance
Counselor).
F. Proceedings of the meeting may be recorded especially when an intervention or
an action for a problem is necessary.
4. Official referral to the Guidance Office may be done if deemed necessary. A letter of
referral or accomplished e-form to be sent to the guidance counselor through the
official email of the Guidance and Counseling Office (gcc@mcu.edu.ph). The
Guidance Counselor can also be contacted through the Guidance Office phone
number: (02) 83641071 to 78 Local: 163.
5. Guidance Counsellor may refer a student to a specialist if the need arises.
6. Students will have to submit a log of their meetings with their shepherd during the
school year as requirement for enrollment.
Process:
1. The Dean’s Office shall generate a list of faculty members who have volunteered
to be part of the Student-Shepherd Program.

2. A workshop on Mentoring, will be facilitated by the Medical Education Unit

(Faculty Development), and shall be attended by all the Shepherd/mentors.

3. The Shepherd Pairings will be done by the Dean’s Office and Guidance Office.
Two faculty members will serve as shepherds per mentoring team.

4. All students from 1st year to 4th year will be assigned to a specific shepherd pair
Target Ratio: 2 Shepherds/Mentors is to 35 Sheep/Mentees

5. An orientation program will be provided by the Student Shepherd Program

Committee to all the participants. During the orientation, the following conditions
will be discussed:
a. The roles of the Shepherds and Sheep
b. The schedule of the meetings for mentoring:
▪ At least two (2) meetings of one (1) hour each is required per
student in a semester (can be done individually or in a group
setting).
c. Shepherding as pre-requisite to enrollment for the next semester.

6. The following forms shall be filled-up by the Shepherds:

 Student-Shepherd Consultation Log Form (SS-F1) unique per
mentor/shepherd. Google form link will be sent to students by the
Guidance Office through the Year Level Coordinators (YLCOs)
 Student-Shepherd Data Privacy Consent Form (SS-F2) google form. Link:
https://forms.gle/ioDHAmJXcFzBxNkQA
 Student-Shepherd Referral Slip/Form (SS-F4)

7. Meetings between the Dean, Student-Shepherd Committee, and Mentors will be

held per semester. Agenda of the meeting will include reporting of student
progress by the committee on shepherding.

8. At the end of the Academic Year, the students shall evaluate the program and
their specific Shepherds/Mentor to determine the program’s effectiveness and
identify areas for improvement.