High School Mentoring Program in UA News
August 5, 2009--The Women in Science and Engineering, or WISE program at The University of Arizona is recruiting mentors from the UA and Tucson community for its high school mentoring program. The young women's mentorship program also will offer new online mentor selection to high school students interested in science, technology, engineering and math careers.
The program offers young women entering their sophomore, junior or senior year in local high schools the opportunity for mentorship by college students and professional women in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.
Professional mentors provide a one-day shadowing experience at their place of employment with the high school student. College student mentors are joined by the school school student for a full day of classes with the high school student.
The program is a part of the UA women's studies department and the Southwest Institute for Research on Women.
Carly Thomsen a research technician and events coordinator for the WISE program, works with area high schools and counselors to promote the mentoring program and has developed a new way for students to select mentors.
"We used to review student profiles and pair them with a mentor who was the best match in terms of fields of interest. This year we've made some changes in hopes of sustaining the program while reaching out to a broader range of students and giving them more choices and independence," Thomsen said.
This year, high school students will get to view mentor profiles online and then submit their selection for a mentor to the WISE program, which will then contact the mentor to arrange for an initial meeting.
"The students gain in the experience by being able to reach out to various mentors and fields of interest on their own, and mentors have the opportunity to interact with more than one student," Thomsen added.
Last year the mentoring program served 34 schools in 12 different districts as well as 10 private and charter schools, and more than doubled the number of students matched with mentors – from 20 to 50.
"Last year we had the highest number of students interested in and involved with the mentoring program," Thomsen said. "In order for the program to continue to grow we had to come up with a new way to connect students with mentors so that the program can be sustainable and continue to meet the needs of the students," Thomsen said.
The program also seeks to partner with additional area businesses interested in the mentorship program.
"Past mentors with our high school mentoring program have worked at places as diverse as Raytheon, Our Family Services, International Rescue Committee, IBM and the UA," Thomsen added.
Mentors can be undergraduate students, graduate students, professors, staff and people working in various businesses and nonprofit organizations who are willing to share their day-to-day work or class experience.
Mentors also can commit to more than one day of shadowing and can commit to more than one student during the year-long mentorship period.
Those interested in becoming mentors for the program are asked to submit a biography that includes current profession, employer information, educational background, reason for choosing career and favorite aspect about current field of study or position.
Profile information and photo must be submitted to sbs-wisemup@email.arizona.edu by Wednesday, Aug. 10 in order to be processed before the students begin the school year.
Submissions are accepted after the initial deadline as recruitment into the program is ongoing.