Sometimes it just takes one – one roommate, one professor, one course, one connection – to change a student’s trajectory.
This fall, New Mexico State University will launch a systemwide mentorship program designed to strengthen students’ sense of belonging and connect undergraduate students with professors, staff and administrators who can help them navigate college and prepare for what comes next.
The program will pair mentors with students for an academic year of guidance. From answering questions and linking students to resources to helping them align their interests with career opportunities, mentors will be available to listen, support and assist with a variety of student needs.
NMSU President Valerio Ferme said he knows from experience how much one-on-one attention from a caring mentor can change a student’s trajectory and success forever.
“As an undergraduate student, during the fall semester of my senior year, I had serious doubts about completing my degrees, because I had lost the motivation to go to medical school: I had no idea what to do with my education and was floundering,” Ferme recalled. “Then, at the end of a class period in one of my biology courses, the professor stopped me, complimented me on the rowing team successes (I had no idea he knew about my being on the crew), and we got to talking about my progress in his class: I wasn’t doing well, but he helped me see that, despite my perception, my growth in the class was visible to him and he believed in my abilities.
“Just those few words changed my outlook and refocused me academically… a small gesture of mentoring supported me to where I am now,” Ferme said.
That kind of connection is at the heart of the President’s Mentorship Program.
Research and experience show that students who feel connected to their campus community are better positioned to persist academically and complete their degrees. The program is designed to help students build those connections while providing another avenue for navigating the academic, personal and professional opportunities of college life.
Mentors work with up to five students for one academic year. In its inaugural year, the program will include a group meeting at the beginning and end of each semester, plus one individual meeting with each student per month. Mentors also will receive training and support for their roles, and the program will begin with a mentoring best practices kickoff and reception from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21.
The pilot program is a collaborative initiative among the Office of the President, the Office of the Provost, Faculty Senate leadership and the Division of Student Enrollment and Success and is guided by evidence-based practices.
“NMSU is committed to enhancing the student experience for all Aggies,” Vice President for Student Enrollment and Success Tony Marin said. “Our faculty, staff and administrators are uniquely positioned to provide meaningful guidance and mentorship that not only supports students during their time at NMSU but also prepares and empowers them for success throughout their professional journey.”