SES Mentor Program

Steve Hage - Coordinator


*Real Life*		*Real People*

Program Summary

Areas of Opportunity

Course Descriptions

Download the Application | Download the Report Log Sheet

MENTOR PROGRAM SUMMARY

PROGRAM GOALS

To give students the opportunity to learn beyond the limits of the available high school curriculum.
To give students access to resources and facilities not available within the high school.
To give students access to professional leadership role models in the community.
To raise students’ awareness of their personal education and career options and assist them in making decisions about these options.

STUDENT SELECTION

Students who wish to participate in the program must complete a comprehensive application sequence. Included is the requirement that student obtain two recommendations from adults (one must be a teacher). Those applicants who show evidence of perseverance, academic ability, creativity, and who have identified and pursued an area of advanced learning are selected for the program. The screening process has been designed to help ensure a high-quality, successful experience for the students.

PROGRAM CONTENT AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES

The program is divided into two parts, the Mentor Seminar and the Mentor Field Experience. Activities in each section are tailored to the needs of the individual student. The following general content descriptions and outcome expectations hold true for all participants.

SEMINAR: Students meet as a class with the instructor daily to prepare for their interaction with mentors. Instruction is designed to improve the student’s self-awareness, communication, and independent learning skills. Students will consider their own plans for education and careers beyond high school. Each student conducts research and formulates a plan for further investigation for the student’s interest area with the guidance of the instructor. They also determine goals and objectives for mentorship.
FIELD EXPERIENCE: Each student works at least eight hours each week in advanced learning directed by the mentor. Students also spend up to two hours each week in class discussion with the instructor and other students evaluating their learning experiences. They are coached in the completion of their assignments. Each student completes an individual project, paper, or product which demonstrates what they have learned under the guidance of the mentor.

MENTOR RESPONSIBILITIES

During the mentorship it is important for the mentor to have at least one contact with the student per week, preferably two. This time is used to talk about the future of the field and educational pathways, to take the student to meetings, to assign reading from professional materials, to design and guide a project to demonstrate what was learned during the mentorship. Each mentorship is unique. It should reflect the interests of the student as well as the professional activities of the mentor. This may include whatever the mentor deems to be appropriate and possible. The student may be assigned to a team or graduate student working under the mentor. Students want to apply their talents in a “real world” setting whenever possible.

STUDENT ASSIGNMENTS

Write a memo detailing the activities and learning experiences of the previous week for mentor and teacher.
Read at least seven articles from materials from the field, either provided by or suggested by the mentor.
Teach a twenty minute lesson about a topic in the mentorship.
Design and complete a project, paper, or product to demonstrate what was learned under the guidance of the mentor.

PLACEMENT INTERVIEW

The student and teacher are available to come for an interview before the mentorship is finalized. This allows the potential mentor to meet the student, to access the student’s learning, and to determine if this is a match with the mentor. The student has resume, goals, and annotated bibliography.

TIMELINE FOR MENTORSHIP

Mentorship is for a trimester of 10-12 weeks. Students typically go to their mentor sites two afternoons per week from 1:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. at the convenience of the mentor.

MENTOR PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Steve Hage, School of Environmental Studies

PHONE: 952-431-8750 FAX: 952-431-8755

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Environmental Studies Career Opportunities for SES Students

Accounting Advertising  
Architecture 
Biotechnology  
Business Management
Communications
Computer Science
Conservation  
Economics  
Education  
Engineering
Fine Arts
 Genetics  
Geology 
Journalism
 Law  
Marketing  
Human
Medicine  
Meteorology  
Physical Therapy  
 Photography  
Public Relations
Research
Natural Resources Management
Urban Planning
 Social Work
Veterinary Medicine

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Mentor Program Course Descriptions

The Mentor Program offers two phases: Mentor Seminar and Mentor Field Experience. Before students are connected with a mentor, the students must complete Mentor Seminar.

Mentor Seminar F-8001/W-8002/S-8003 Prerequisite: Completed application process and instructor approval Grades 11-12

In this course, students prepare to learn at an advanced level with a professional in a field that interests the student. With the instructor, each student will formulate a personalized educational plan for further investigation of the student's area of interest. A faculty contact in the student's speciality area will also be available as the student prepares a project related to this field of interest. Classroom instruction is designed to improve the students' communication and independent learning skills, to assist them in in-depth learning about their fields of interest, and to help develop a focus and readiness to continue their learning with a mentor. Interested students should contact the Mentor Program instructor for more information and an application packet.

Mentor Field Experience F-8005/W-8006/S-8007 Prerequisite: Mentor Seminar and instructor approval Grades 11-12

This two-credit course provides an opportunity for in-depth learning with a professional in a field the student selects. Students will observe, converse with, and work closely with their mentors at the mentor's work site. Students will define and produce a meaningful project under the guidance of their mentors and the field experience instructor. Students also meet with the instructor and other students to continue to develop and apply the skills gained in the seminar and to evaluate their field experience learning. This course offers academic challenge and requires a high level of student responsibility. Students must provide their own transportation to the mentor site.

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