Select one track and a Project Idea then complete the proposal form (Due March 13, 2019 5pm)

Thank you for agreeing to be a mentor for a College student. Our professionally-focused academic programs count on professionals such as yourself to help guide and open our students up to incredibly valuable real-world experiences. This guide was created to help you understand baseline expectations of being a mentor, and to provide specific contact information should you have any questions.

Baseline Expectations of Mentorship

You are being asked to work with a student in a professional setting that you are familiar with, and help them: 1) gain valuable real-world experience in an area of their choosing, and 2) help the student successfully reach a set of predefined Essential Learning Competencies, or learning goals. The student approaching you is enrolled in the course MGMT-470: Business Management Capstone which is the final course in the B.S. in Business Management degree program at College. This is their culminating academic experience and for most, their last course before graduation. We’re asking students to utilize their learning in the program and prior experiences to develop a capstone project that proves their competence in at least five of the aforementioned essential business competency areas.

The Learning Contract

These essential competencies are defined in a Learning Contract the student will fill out with your help. By the time the student approaches you s/he will have anywhere from 4-6 weeks to complete their fieldwork experience in-full. The final product of their fieldwork experience is a written capstone paper which will detail their experience, learning, and competence.

First, the student should have approached you with an initial idea they are interested in, and that you are familiar with. This idea may be a bit vague at first but, together, you can work to hone-down the idea into an actionable plan. There are a series of steps we are asking you to take with the student over the next few weeks, and to also sign a Learning Contract with the student (which will be provided).

Second, In the Learning Contract you will clearly identify the following (the Learning Contract has a pre-filled example if you need some clarity):

1. The five Essential Competencies the student wishes to focus on (the complete list and explanation of each competency will be provided to you);

2. The Learning Objectives to reach those competencies (what, specifically, the student wants [and needs] to learn);

3. The Strategies and Resources required to meet the learning objectives (how, specifically, the student will learn? What will they be doing?);

4. The Evidence to be presented as proof of their learning (how will they demonstrate that they’ve learned?); and

5. The Criteria for Evaluation and means of validating their learning (how will the student’s performance be evaluated?)

Third, please know that strategies and resources really come down to identifying a set of tasks and/or actions that you (or someone you appoint) can walk the student through, assist them in-action, and follow up with them after-action. It will be important that the student’s actions and resulting learning is well documented, specific, and validated on a weekly basis. The student will have to report on their progress each week so it will be important to follow up with them weekly during the duration of the fieldwork experience.

Summary

To summarize, here is what you’ll be responsible for as this student’s mentor:

· Work with the student to identify/hone/solidify their fieldwork experience, and/or ask your student what he/she would like to learn at your agency;

· Thoroughly discuss the assigned activities and skills to be developed;

· Complete and sign the Learning Contract;

· Have the student return the Learning Contract to his/her instructor;

· Make a copy of the Learning Contract for your files;

· Review the Learning Contract throughout the term to verify the student’s progress. Changes to the contract can be made as needed;

· Be sure to turn in any paperwork to the student at the end of the term or when they terminate their fieldwork.

Contact Information

I am the student’s primary capstone advisor and MGMT-470: Business Management Capstone professor. Feel free to reach out to me at any time with questions or concerns.

Dr. XXX

Assistant Professor

Program Director - Business Management

College | Division of Continuing Professional Studies

Email: xxxxxxxxxx

Mobile: xxxxxx

Thank you, once again, for agreeing to be this student’s mentor. It means a lot to us here at School, and I know it means a lot to them...you are making a big difference in their life!

Cheers!

-XX