Alumni Mentorship Program

Volunteer » Alumni Mentorship Program

Overview

Since 2005, the Alumni Mentorship Program has fostered valuable relationships between Skule™ alumni and students. Alumni Mentors share their knowledge and experience and provide students with the encouragement and insights they need to get a great start to their careers and begin to set a course for the future. They enhance students’ educational experience and give back to their alma mater in a unique and rewarding way. Mentors often also learn from their bright young student mentees as they help them navigate important decisions at a critical time in their lives.

The program is open to undergraduate (including Professional Experience Year internship participants), graduate students (MASc, MEng and PhD) and alumni who graduated more than one year ago. Matches meet at the program’s kick-off event held at the beginning of the fall semester. From October through March, mentors and mentees connect informally as they wish, and all matches gather at several program events planned throughout the year.

How it Works

Alumni are welcome to join the AMP at any time. Mentors who are not matched with a mentee formally in October will be called upon over a dozen times throughout the year for one-off events related to mentoring students in a professional development setting.

Students next chance to join the formal AMP will occur again in September 2022.

All participants are required to be a member U of T Engineering CONNECT.

Be an Student Mentee

Click here to register for the Alumni Mentorship Program's virtual Information Session on September 14th. The session will be recorded for those who are unable to attend.
Apply to seek admission to the AMP before Thursday, September 22nd, 2022.
1. Wait to receive the news of your approval into the program by Friday, September 23rd at 5:00pm
Following your offer of acceptance, join the ‘’Alumni Mentorship Program 2022-2023’’ group within U of T Engineering CONNECT
- Furthermore, you will receive a list of 3 suggested mentors following your offer of acceptance via CONNECT and email by Wednesday, September 28th. CONNECT will pull through suggestions for the mentors in the group who match 25% or higher according to a specific criteria.
  - However, feel free to explore CONNECT independently using the Directory to filter through mentors. In the ''Affiliations'' filter, select ''Formal Alumni Mentor' to begin your search for a match.
Once you have received your suggestions, ask one, two or all three alumni to be your formal match by selecting the "Request Mentor" button on their profile page. Write an effective message to them to ask for the connection for AMP.
Click here to register for the in-person AMP Kick-Off event: Mentors & Mocktails on October 4th. 
- If you are located outside the GTA but would still like to attend virtually, please register for the event, and we will look for innovative ways to include you in the celebrations if possible.

What is next?

All year long, with at least seasonal frequency: Update your CONNECT profile – add in some new details about yourself; post a brief description of your experience, background and interests.
Between now and October 4th, search the Directory in CONNECT to research and consider which alumni in the 'Affiliation' filter of the Directory labelled as ''Formal Alumni Mentor" would be a positive match for you. What could you learn from a variety of graduates and various professionals? Make a short list. Pick one ''Formal Alumni Mentor" and select the "Request Mentor" button. Allow for a time ''buffer'' giving them reasonable time to reply within a business day or two. If they do not reply try them by another contact method (LinkedIn details in their account, direct email, CONNECT messaging system, etc...) If three days pass and there is no reply move on to the next ask. Once an alumni accepts your requests, the 'get-to-know-them' stage begins. Share details about your work and goals, history and aspirations, and ask them questions about theirs.
Meet face-to-face in person or via video conference with your mentor once a month. Keep in touch via email, phone or social media
Stay mindful of the dates on the AMP webpage (this page) and the Connect Group - book mark it. Add the dates to your calendar.

Be an Alumni Mentor

Sign up as an AMP Mentor to confirm your commitment to the program for 2022-2023. 
Join U of T Engineering CONNECT and wait for a membership approval email if you do not already have a CONNECT profile.
- Log into U of T Engineering CONNECT and select Groups on the left-hand menu. Select 2022-23 Alumni Mentorship Group and join the group. Please ensure that your profile is up-to-date and includes a professional profile image. 
Click here to register for the Alumni Mentorship Program's virtual Information Session on September 14th.  
Click here to register for the in-person AMP Kick-Off event: Mentors & Mocktails on October 4th.  
- If you are located outside the GTA but would still like to attend virtually, please register for the event, and we will look for innovative ways to include you in the celebrations if possible.

What is next?

Update your CONNECT profile – add in some new details about yourself; post a brief description of your experience, background and interests.
Between now and October 4, student mentees will formally request mentorship of you. Accepting their request will be your commitment to the program and to their learning outcomes for 2022-23. You are welcome to take on more than one mentee if you wish to. The committee recommends accepting one if this is your first year participating. Stay tuned to your inbox and accept or decline requests for mentorship within 48 hours or sooner. The students are being instructed by us to move on to another alumni mentor if it has been over 3 business days.
Meet in person or via video conference with your student mentee once a month. Keep in touch via email, phone or social media