Industry Connections Students

The Industry Connections program offers students a wealth of benefits that can significantly enhance their academic and professional development. By pairing students with experienced mentors, the program provides personalized guidance and support, helping students navigate the complexities of their academic journey. Mentors can offer valuable insights into course selection, time management, and study strategies, enabling students to make informed decisions that align with their goals. Additionally, the one-on-one interaction fosters a supportive relationship, where students can openly discuss challenges and receive encouragement, which is crucial for building confidence and resilience.

Beyond academic support, Industry Connections also plays a pivotal role in students' career preparation. Mentors can share industry knowledge, provide networking opportunities, and offer advice on job search strategies, internships, and career paths. This exposure to real-world experiences helps students develop a clearer understanding of their chosen field and prepares them for the transition from college to the workforce. Furthermore, the connections made through mentoring can lead to long-lasting professional relationships, giving students a valuable network to tap into as they progress in their careers.

Expectations for Students

Following some basic guidelines will help ensure a positive and valuable experience for both the student and mentor.

Maintain Regular Contact

You and your partner should commit to being in contact a minimum of twice a month during the program. Email is one way to connect, but it’s not a substitute for real-time conversations. Try to connect in person, on the phone, or over a video chat as much as possible. Scheduling a regular meeting day and time that works for both parties can be a great way to build a strong connection.

You are both expected to return calls and emails in a timely manner to each other. We understand life, work and school can get busy so you might want to set a reminder to check your email or block off time each week devoted to working on your mentoring relationship.

Set Your SMART Goals

A mentoring partnership only works if both the student and mentor are on the same page about their goals and expectations. Work with your partner to complete the SMART Goals Agreement and evaluate your progress regularly.

Active Listening and Feedback

Listen actively to each other’s perspectives and experiences and provide constructive feedback that is specific, actionable, and supportive. Encourage an open dialogue where both parties feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas.

Receiving feedback that is candid and delivered in a thoughtful and constructive way is a skill that can be hard to learn. It’s important that students be open to receiving feedback and that mentors model good behavior through open discussion.

Celebrate Achievements and Milestones

Acknowledge and celebrate progress and accomplishments and reflect on milestones and lessons learned throughout the mentorship. Use these achievements as motivation for further development and setting new goals.

Continuous Learning and Adaptability

Encourage a mindset of continuous learning and growth. Be open to adjusting the mentorship plan as goals evolve and new opportunities arise.

Honor Commitments

Occasionally, you or your partner may need to cancel a meeting or conversation. It is expected that you and your partner will do your best to communicate in advance of the cancellation and reschedule your conversation.

Evaluate

In order to ensure that we continue to build a strong program that is beneficial to both students and mentors, we require that participants complete an evaluation survey at the end of the program.

Concluding the Mentorship

As we come to the end of the program make plans to attend our Industry Connections Celebration, the official end of the program. This is also the time to thank your partner for their time over the year and to redefine your partnership and set new ground rules and boundaries for future interactions. 

Some mentoring relationships continue long after the formal program ends, but others do not. Do what makes sense for you and your partner.