ECE Faculty-Undergraduate Mentoring Program

Mandatory Group Mentoring for First Semester Freshman

Overview

As an ECE student you must satisfy the mentoring requirement each semester before you will be allowed to register for the following semester. Typically you will do this by meeting individually with your assigned faculty mentor. However, during the first semester of your freshman year you will instead be required to attend a group mentoring session.

What to Expect

The group mentoring sessions will provide you and your fellow students with an opportunity to interact with an ECE faculty member in a relaxed atmosphere with lite fare. Students will also be given the opportunity to work on and ask questions about their 4-year graduation plans. The mentoring and 4-year plan mini-workshop will be conducted in parallel twice with half the students doing their mentoring first and the other half their 4-year plans before switching.

1. Opening Remarks & Distribution of Faculty Mentor Letter (15 Minutes)

After signing-in you will be given your faculty mentor assignment letter. This letter contains the name and contact information for your mentor. (NOTE: In most cases, this will not be the mentor you see during your group mentoring session.) Lite fair will be provided after which there will be a few brief introductory remarks before the group mentoring begins.

In all future semesters you will be required to meet with your officially assigned faculty mentor. However, if you have any questions or concerns that are not addressed in the group mentoring session or if questions arise later in the semester, you should feel free to contact your officially assigned mentor.

2. Mentoring in Small Groups (20-25 Minutes)

When it comes time for your group mentoring, you and 4-5 other students will be assigned a faculty member who will guide your session. You should feel free to ask questions about your academics, career plans and professional development, research opportunities, the social environment within the department, etc. These sessions will be held in 2460 A.V. Williams.

3. 4-Year Plans Mini-Workshop (20-25 Minutes)

Running in parallel with the group mentoring will be the 4-year plan mini-workshops. The workshop will be conducted in the Jasmine International Telecommunications Lab. Here you will be given a brief tutorial and opportunity to work on your plan. If you have already started the process, you should feel free to bring your draft plan to work on and have your questions answered.

Fall 2009 Schedule of Group Mentoring Sessions

• 5:00-6:30 pm on Wednesday, September 30, 2009 (2460 A.V. Williams Building)
• 5:00-6:30 pm on Thursday, October 1, 2009 (2460 A.V. Williams Building)

Signing-up

If you are a first semester freshman you must attend at least one of the scheduled group mentoring sessions. To registered, please send an email to Dolores Harris at:

Please indicate which of the two dates you would prefer. In addition, indicate if you have any scheduling conflicts or commitments that would prevent you from attending the other session.

Finally, as previously noted, the group mentoring is mandatory for all first semester freshman. However, if you are unable to attend due to circumstances beyond your control please contact the Undergraduate Office so we can make alternative arrangements to ensure you get the proper guidance and information to help facilitate your success in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and beyond.

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