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Engineering Mentors . Alyse Ridpath Graduate Coordinator. Engineering Mentors. E-Mentors: Graduate/Undergraduate Intercultural Mentoring in Engineering Goals: Enhance participants’ c ultural adaptability Increase interaction opportunities
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Engineering Mentors Alyse Ridpath Graduate Coordinator
Engineering Mentors • E-Mentors: • Graduate/Undergraduate Intercultural Mentoring in Engineering • Goals: • Enhance participants’ cultural adaptability • Increase interaction opportunities • Promote international integration & domestic education
Background • Dean’s Education Initiative • Engineering International Engagement • Annual funding: • $30,000 Iowa State’s International Student Population
Initial Implementation • Recruitment & Training • Event Format: large & small group interaction • Clusters: 2 graduate mentors & 3-5 undergraduate mentees
Program Expenditures • Graduate support • Mentor training • Large group events • Cluster meetings
Event Format Cluster Meetings Large Group Events Clusters meet every 2-4 weeks throughout the academic year Interaction opportunities for students from different clusters
Cluster Meetings • Clusters meet every 2-4 weeks throughout the academic year • Coordinated by mentors • Opportunity for discussion • Meeting Reports • E-Mentors website • Program communication • Activities • Lunch, dinner • Laser tag • Bowling • Movies
Large Group Events • Program wide engagements • Planned by coordinators • Interaction opportunities for students from different clusters • Events • Kick-Off Event • Football Game and Tailgate • Hockey Match & Pizza • Men’s Basketball Game • Virtual Reality Application (VRAC) Demonstration & Dinner
Program Assessment • Surveys • Pre • Post • Focus Groups • 2012-2013 Participation: • 32 clusters • 64 graduate mentors • (15 domestic/49 international) • 125 undergraduate mentees • (100 domestic/25 international)
Feedback • “I learned about some of the issues that affect foreign undergraduates, such as language barriers, customs / traditions, etc.” • “It is a great opportunity to share different cultures with American students.” • “I also got the opportunity to be more involved in American society.” • “It would be nice if the individual group meetings were more structured.” • “Clear goals of the program would help the mentors.” • “Help mentors develop mentoring skills.”
Lessons Learned • More Structure • Increase planned events • Large & small • Prompts • Training Sessions • Facilitate education • Development of community • Encourage retention • Pairings • Co-mentors & clusters • Time availability
Current Implementation • Mentor Training • 3 detailed sessions • Big picture, program goals & details, culture sharing • Mentor empowerment
Current Implementation • Program Structure • Monthly large group events • Graduate student interaction • Semi-structured activities • Funding incentives
Current Implementation • 2013-2014 Participation: • 30 clusters • 60 graduate mentors • (12 domestic/48 international) • 215 undergraduate mentees • (176 domestic/39 international) • Clusters • 2 international graduate mentors • & 5-8 domestic undergraduate mentees • 2 domestic graduate mentors • & 5-8 international undergraduate mentees
Alyse Ridpath & Ben McCarty Engineering Mentors Program Coordinators College of Engineering 112 Marston Hall Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 50011 ementor@iastate.edu 515-294-1884 (phone) 515-294-9273 (fax)