- Role of a mentor:

o Setting a mood of openness, trust, and freedom of expression in pursuit of ideas

and self-truth
§ Being approachable and available to students
§ Upholding the tenets of the Carolinian Creed
§ Modeling an appropriate balance between academics and involvement
§ Helping students engage in healthy and responsible decision making
§ Demonstrating empathy
§ Setting an example of what a successful student looks like
- Some important mentor characteristics:
o Active listening
o Consistency
o Follow through
o Let student know they matter
o Respectful
o Takes a holistic interest in students
o Willingness to share own experiences
- How to mentor:
o Establish rapport with the student. Take time outside of class to get to know
each other. Share personal information about yourself and make yourself
available to the student
o Let the student know of your intentions to answer questions and help when
necessary. Demonstrate this willingness at the earliest opportunity whether you
simply help the student find a tutor or listen to a problem
o Reinforce your role by setting up conferences or interviews with the student.
Send reminder letters, emails, or phone calls when the student misses class and
on important dates (like class registration)
o Be assertive about the limits you must set but make it clear that limits are not a
reflection of a lack of concern on your part for the student, merely parameters
for a professional mindset. For example, if you must go to class and you have
only fifteen minutes to meet, tell the student that at the outset.
o As a mentor, you are not only as advisor but also a model. Demonstrate through
your own behavior, how a professional behaves in terms of fulfilling
responsibilities, managing time, etc.
- Helping Model:
o Paraphrase: restate facts, ideas, and/or feelings in your own words to check if
you are listening and hearing what is being said
o Clarify understanding: ask questions and restate content/feelings to see if you
are on the right track and understand what is being said to you
o Ask open-ended questions: open-ended questions typically begin with words
such as “why” and “how” or phrases such as “tell me about”
o Work past surface level: remember that the problem they approach you with
may not be the actual or underlying problem they want help resolving, you may
have to dig deeper
 o Summarize: Summarize as you go, try to pull the important
ideas/concerns/problems together at different points to be sure everyone is on
the same page
- Traits of an Ineffective Listener:
o Interrupting or rushing the speaker
o Not making eye contact
o Showing interest in something other than the conversation
o Finishing the speaker’s thoughts
o Topping the speaker’s story or making it about you
o Giving unsolicited advice
- Traits of an Effective Listener:
o Asking open-ended questions
o Embracing silence
o Paraphrasing
o Acknowledging their feelings
o Being nonjudgemental
o Finding an appropriate time and place to talk
o Limiting distractions
o Being conscious of body language and signals it may senf
o Use proper physical attending skills
- Helping Skills Checklist:
o Pay attention to my body language and facial expressions
§ Maintain eye contact
§ Lean in towards the student
§ Make sure my arms are not crossed
§ Nod encouragingly
o Focus completely on my student
§ Avoid distraction
§ Demonstrate sincere concern, empathy, and interest
o Use reflective listening techniques
§ Ask occasional questions to gather clarifying information
§ Validate student ideas, thoughts, concerns, etc
§ Ask open-ended questions
o Maintain an open and respectful attitude
§ No interruptions or unsolicited opinions
§ Avoid playing the “expert”
o Use silence appropriately
§ Allow students to fully articulate or express throughts/feelings