This document provides information about the Office of Black Student Affairs (OBSA) Mentorship Program. The program aims to provide incoming students of African descent a connection to current students through mentoring relationships. It outlines the program structure including roles for OBSA deans, head mentors, mentors, and student managers. The duties of mentors such as establishing contact with mentees, attending events, and communicating campus opportunities are described. The document reviews the mentor application process timeline and provides encouragement for participants to make the most of their experience through leadership, service, and community building.

1. Information
Session
OFFICE OF
BLACK STUDENT AFFAIRS
MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

2.  Staff introductions
 Current OBSA Mentors?
 Current OBSA Mentees?
 Members of other 5C Mentoring programs?
 How did you learn about today’s session?
WHO IS IN THE ROOM?

3. OBSA MENTORSHIP MISSION AND GOALS
 Provide incoming students of African Descent with an immediate
connection to students in the Claremont Colleges.
 Create a supportive environment where information like advice
or resources can be shared comfortably.
 Build a community with students that is capable of serving a
variety of academic and extracurricular interests.
 Offer diverse activities, programs, and events.
 Nurture positive relationships between Mentees, Mentors, Head
Mentors, OBSA staff and affiliated offices and departments,.

4. PROGRAM STRUCTURE
OBSA Dean
OBSA Student Manager
for Mentorship (1)
OBSA Head Mentors (5)
Mentors (25-30)
Mentees (~100)
Current Stats:
# of Mentors
21
# of Mentees Per
Group
3-4 to 1
# of Head Mentors
5
# of Mentors per
Head Mentor
4 to 1
Projected Mentee
Count for 2016:
100

5.  Head Mentors are from Five Colleges
 Role is specific to needs of OBSA Mentorship (may differ from
other programs)
 Separate recruitment and interview process
 How Head Mentors support Mentors
 Paid staff role (OBSA weekly office hours, staff meetings, core group
management, OBSA and OBSA Mentorship events)
 Development of OBSA Mentorship activities
 Facilitation, leadership and communication
 Required Mentor tasks:
 Attend monthly core meetings
 Mentee referrals to Head Mentors
 Conflict management
 Troubleshooting
 Activity planning
OBSA HEAD MENTOR ROLE

6.  Weekly work hours in OBSA
 Plan and develop recruitment, training, matching and first
year retreat
 Administrative support for OBSA Mentorship
 Helps Head Mentors meet yearly goals
 Develops surveys and feedback forms
 Assists in overall development and success of OBSA
Mentorship.
 Supports communication from
OBSA to participants
OBSA STUDENT MANAGER FOR
MENTORSHIP ROLE

7. WHAT WE DO?

8.  GETTING STARTED
 Establishing contact with mentees (email/meeting up with
them/exchange numbers)
 Find out what your mentees’ interests are and see how well equipped
you are to help them pursue those interests
 Express your availability to help or hang out with your mentees when
you’re available.
 THROUGHOUT THE SEMESTER
 Encourage participation at Mentorship wide events (and attend some
too)
 Communicate knowledge of campus events that mentees might be
interested in
WHERE WOULD YOU FIT INTO ALL OF THIS AS
AN OBSA MENTOR?

9.  What we want to know:
 What is your perception of the OBSA Mentor Role?
 Have you ever mentored before or worked in a similar
capacity?
 No experience necessary
 Share an idea for an activity that you would be interested in
planning for you and your mentees?
 What qualities do you possess that make you a good mentor?
HOW DO I BECOME A MENTOR?
PREPARING FOR THE INTERVIEW

10.  OBSA MENTEE recruitment begins in January through the
summer! We accept and match on a rolling basis.
 OBSA MENTOR Application Timeline: Mentor application now
available! Apply online today at. DEADLINE TO APPLY Feb 5,
2016
 Interviews: Scheduled on a rolling basis with OBSA staff and
Head Mentors, late February-March 2016
 Final selection announcement: March 25, 2016
 Mentor Training I: April 2016 (3 hours)
 Mentor Training II: August 2016 (2 hours)
 Mentors Receive Mentee information in early August.
 OBSA Mentorship Welcome Events Kickoff September 2016
 Mentor-Mentee Meet and Greet
 Annual First Year Retreat
 OBSA Open House
 Head Mentor core group meetings begin late September
NEXT STEPS:
IMPORTANT DATES AND TASKS FOR OBSA

11.  Service
 Enhance your college career and contribute to your career portfolio
with a structured service and leadership position
 Communication
 Make useful connections with faculty, staff and students
 Share your knowledge and experience with others
 Professional development
 Work with other mentors and OBSA staff to achieve goals
 Collaboration with other mentors
 Teambuilding
 Community
 Build and contribute to a close-knit community of African descent
 Leadership
 Use current experiences to impact incoming students
 Be creative in building relationships with first year students
MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR OBSA MENTOR
EXPERIENCE!

12.  Thursday, December 10, 5:30-6:30pm at Harvey Mudd College: HMC-
SHAN 2465 (Shanahan Center)
 Thursday January 28, 5:00-6:00pm in the OBSA Bungalow (139 E Seventh
st, rear building)
Info sessions not required but encouraged to
assist our students in the application and
interview process. Acceptance is not guaranteed
and mentors are carefully selected. Demonstrate
effort and show your passion for mentoring to be
considered!
UPCOMING OBSA MENTOR INFO
SESSIONS: TELL A FRIEND!

13. QUESTIONS?
CONTACT: OBSA@CUC.CLAREMONT.EDU