The Graduate Intern is responsible for assisting the Program Director and Program Specialist in the development, planning, and implementation of two mentoring programs: The University Mentorship Program and Transfer Connections.

The University Mentorship Program

Founded in 1991, the University Mentorship Program is a non-residential learning community designed to help first-year students become acclimated to campus life and broaden access to all that the University of Michigan has to offer. The program matches groups of first year students with a peer mentor to receive guidance, advice and support as they navigate their first semester of college. The program runs only during the fall semester, and there are approximately 450 mentees and 20 paid peer mentors.

Transfer Connections

Created in 2007, Transfer Connections provides an opportunity for new transfer students to connect with peer mentors, who are upper level transfer students, in order to ease the transition from their former college or university to the University of Michigan. Transfer Connections helps to make the University easier to navigate, provides support and guidance, and helps students build relationships on campus. Transfer Connections groups are made up of 12-15 mentees (new transfer students) who share a peer mentor in the fall semester, and 10-12 mentees in the winter semester.  There are approximately 150-250 mentees and 15-20 paid transfer peer mentors in the program.

The Graduate Intern provides overall support to the University Mentorship Program and Transfer Connections, and supports the successful achievement of program goals by: 

• Co-supervising and coaching student staff, providing ongoing guidance, feedback, and professional development support

• Co-facilitating weekly student staff meetings, including agenda development, providing program updates, and discussion facilitation

• Monitoring and overseeing the completion of student staff task lists to ensure alignment with program goals (e.g., event planning, newsletters, outreach initiatives, etc.)

• Assisting with program data collection, assessment, and evaluation efforts to inform decision-making and continuous improvement

• Attending, staffing, and providing on-site support for programs and events, including evening and late-night activities

• Co-facilitating student staff recruitment, selection, onboarding, and training processes

• Co-facilitating mentee recruitment and selection processes in collaboration with professional staff

• Editing and supporting the development of marketing and communication materials for program promotion and outreach

• Updating, maintaining, and organizing program operational documents prior to and throughout the semester, including activity logs, mentor report forms, interaction trackers, rosters, and event planning templates (e.g., sign-in sheets, feedback forms)

• Conducting one-on-one meetings with student staff to support goal-setting, reflection, and professional growth

• Providing thoughtful recommendations for program enhancement and improvement based on assessment findings (e.g., training models, supervision practices, structures, and procedures)

• Supporting additional administrative and programmatic responsibilities as needed

• Performing other duties as assigned

• Bachelor’s degree and enrolled in a graduate program at a nearby college or university (University of Michigan preferred)

• Excellent organizational, written, and interpersonal communication skills

• Preferred experience in program development and implementation, either as a student or professional

• Excellent leadership and management skills

• Must be able to interact and work effectively with students, faculty and staff

• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal

• Ability to work independently and within a team environment with students and staff

• The successful candidates will be creative, self-motivated, responsible, reliable, detail oriented and able to take initiative