First-Generation Mentorship Program

Program Purpose:

L&C’s First-Generation Mentorship Program aims to bridge the generational gap by supporting our first-generation college students. By sharing insider knowledge regarding industries, institutional knowledge of higher education, and navigating complex societal systems; first-generation college students enrolled in our mentorship program will be in the good hands of their mentors and in the community of other first-generation individuals.

Defining first-generation is never a simple task as there are multiple definitions. We define First-Generation college students as someone whose parents or guardians did not earn a 4-year degree.

If you identify as first-generation and are interested in serving as a mentor, please complete this interest form here. By expressing interest, you are not obligated to participate. We will have an informational meeting for those who are interested in Monday, August 21 ^st at 11:00am via Zoom or in-person.

Mentors can be first-generation from any of our three campuses:

• Staff
• Faculty
• Alumni

How will this work?

• Mentors will be paired with no more than 3 first-generation students (mentees)
• Mentors should reach out to their mentees once a month (via text, email, phone call, video call, or in person).
• Mentees should reach out to their mentor anytime they are seeking advice, feeling doubt, or have a question but don’t know who to turn to. Whenever they are feeling imposture syndrome. This is a two-way street, so please be proactive in reaching out to your mentor if you want to say hello!
• All participants will be invited to join a community meal once a semester.
• Mentees are required to complete a set of tasks each school year (an IME staff member will be tracking each mentee)
• • First-year = Visit the Career Center to learn about resources
  • Second-year = Develop a resume and cover letter with support from Career Center
  • Third-year = Research post-college plans (graduate school, employment, volunteer, internships, travel, etc.).
  • Fourth-year = Conduct 2 informational interviews with organizations they’re interested in.

  Guiding Principles of being a mentor:

  • Agree on confidentiality (unless Title IX is related to staff/faculty)
  • Aim for a common goal (what do you both want out of this mentorship)
  • Be accountable and present

  What else?!

  There are other ways to be involved with this community! IME is hoping to highlight the various first-generation members on campus. Learn more about representing the first-generation community via First-Gen Highlights: Google Form here (https://tinyurl.com/LCFirstHighlight).

  Stay tuned for our annual First-Generation Celebration event on November 8 ^th !

  Your ideas and suggestions are always welcome! Please email multicultural@lclark.edu to continue our efforts.