Have you been looking for a way to get involved on campus? I’ve heard almost every day over the past two weeks students saying they need to get more involved or are looking for a way to make a difference. Thanks to OSU Communications I received an email earlier this week inviting me to apply for a program, the Women’s Mentorship Program, which I had never heard of. I decided to do a little research on it and learned all about this wonderful opportunity. It’s definitely worth applying for.
The Women’s Mentorship Program’s was created last year, through the Office of Multicultural Affairs as an effort to help ensure a successful transition for incoming freshmen, sophomore, and transfer students to Oklahoma State. It also functions to promote mentorship, leadership and a sense of community for all of OSU’s female students. The WMP’s goals are to help women achieve their academic goals, and to provide aid as they begin their preparations for life after graduation.
This program is in its second year, and while it follows the same general format as last year, one new aspect of the program is a participation contract that the women involved are now asked to sign. This is contact is a way of ensuring their commitment to engage in all aspects of the program.
All women at Oklahoma State University are eligible to be a part of the WMP. The mentees are made up of freshman, sophomore and transfer students. The program pairs them with a junior, senior or graduate student as a mentor. Juniors, seniors, and graduate students are then paired with a faculty or staff member as mentor of their own. The role of the mentors is to be a resource and offer support to their mentee. Jen Macken, coordinator of women’s and LGBT affairs, says, “they may offer advice and guidance, or may just be there to listen, but hopefully both parties gain something from this experience.”
Participants will not receive class credit for the program. However they will receive benefits beyond access to a mentor, such as workshops on study skills, professional development, service opportunities in the community and social events.
The WMP has meetings and workshops twice a month, as well as weekly or bi-weekly meetings with your mentor/mentee. The overall time commitment is approximately 5-7 hours per month.
Sound like something you would like to be a part of? Applications are due Friday Aug. 31 at 5 p.m.