January is National Mentor Month and the College of Charleston is designating January 26, 2012 as A Day of Mentoring. The day will be an opportunity to show gratitude to current mentors at the College, but also to recruit new mentors. The Office of Multicultural Student Programs and Services (MSPS) will host an event with light refreshments from noon to 2 p.m. in the Stern Center ballroom.
“We really want to focus community attention on the need for mentors, as well as how each of us—individuals, educators, schools, and nonprofits—can work together to increase the number of mentors to assure brighter futures for our college students,” says David Michener, associate director of MSPS. “A mentor can be anyone who is enthusiastic about working with students and has a genuine interest in helping them succeed.”
Since 2009, the Office of Multicultural Student Programs and Services has coordinated a mentor program primarily for freshmen minority students. Each year, up to 50 students are matched with a faculty or staff mentor who they meet with regularly during the academic year. This year, their goal is to increase participation from all students and departments to increase involvement.
Mentors and mentees spend time together doing fun and creative activities including talking/listening, eating a meal together and attending campus events. The goal of this program is to build a relationship of trust between the mentor and mentee, while being a campus resource to help guide the mentees along their academic journey.
For more information, contact David Michener at michenerd@cofc.edu or 843.953.1402.
