Starting the Mentorship

Welcome to the UCLA Alumni Mentor Program!  

Mentors can be a vital part of a student’s career and personal development, but this is just the start of a year-long endeavor. 

As a participant of the Alumni Mentor Program, you are agreeing to abide by the tenets of the True Bruin values (integrity, excellence, accountability and respect) and the Principles of Community. If you do not abide by these principles, you will be removed from the program. 

Below are next steps for you as you begin your mentorship: 

1. Fill out our program pre-survey. 
2. As part of the Alumni Mentor Program, you are committing to connecting with your mentee at least once a month, until June 2024. 
3. If you have not done so already, connect on UCLA ONE with your mentee to schedule a time to meet for an hour. 
4. We’ve asked your student to prepare topics for your first conversation, but please take a look at the Mentorship Agreement. You can use this as a framework for your first conversation to discuss how you both would like to move forward. 
5. As you connect with your mentee(s), this is a critical time to determine if you are indeed a good fit. Be honest in your availability and expertise, and if there is not an alignment, be honest with what you are able to provide. If it doesn’t seem to be a match, you are able to discontinue the mentorship on UCLA ONE. However, if you feel there is something there to grow on, open yourself up to the opportunity to grow with your student. 
6. Take a moment to watch the UCLA Alumni Mentor Program Orientation Video and review the Making the Most of Your Mentorship worksheet. 

While this is just the beginning of a long-term endeavor, there will be situations where the mentorship feels stagnated. Do not hesitate to reach out to our staff if you find that you need assistance in reaching your student or working through an obstacle. We will be sending out monthly e-newsletters with resources and mentorship ideas. We encourage you to be honest if things aren’t going as you thought and to find compromise as you move forward. If a student is truly not a fit, you can cancel the mentorship on UCLA ONE and work with a different student.  

Thank you again for your willingness to serve our UCLA community in this way. Your insights will make an indelible impact on your mentee. 

Please look to explore our FAQ page for commonly received program questions. For specific questions please contact alumnimentor@alumni.ucla.edu.