Creating Connections for Mentorship
Each month, the Mentorship Working Group will host informal, small peer gatherings (virtual or hybrid). These meetings will be led by a facilitator and have pre-determined topics to discuss, sent before the session.
Check the Teams channel for the most up-to-date information. Resources and tools will also be shared here.
Background:
OSUAP’s Mentorship Committee started a mentoring program in 2017 as an effort to support administrative professionals who were new to OSU, new to the administrative support profession, or those who were looking for professional guidance and support.
In 2023, we reimagined the program. Recognizing that some of the best mentoring relationships develop organically, the hope is that participants can make connections that might lead to the creation of peer mentoring relationships.
What is mentorship?
- Mentoring is a system of semi-structured guidance whereby one person shares their knowledge, skills, and experience to assist others to progress in their own lives and careers.
- Mentorship is a part of professional development.
- Mentorship is a relationship in which a more experienced or knowledgeable person helps to guide a person with less experience or knowledge.
Who is a mentor?
- an experienced and trusted advisor, guide, guru, counselor, or consultant
- to advise or train
- an influential, senior sponsor or support
But… it doesn’t have to fit a mold!
Resources:
Testimonials
Mentee Perspectives:
“My mentor was a great listener, and I felt I could freely discuss my concerns without any judgment and offered great advice. The mentoring program is worthwhile, a good investment of your time.”
“I really enjoyed my mentor who provided me with advice on how to handle situations in which I wasn’t fully understanding how to handle. My mentor was very professional, willing to engage, open and always had professional advice.”
“My mentor provided me and another mentee advice in a group setting and I felt supported because I had a peer that was experiencing some of the same things I was, and we both had a mentor with a great amount of experience who was able to give us sound advice. I think group mentoring was very helpful, besides the 1-1 sessions. She was also very knowledgeable about resources around campus and always pointed us in the right direction. The mentorship program is a great way to connect with other professionals around campus and learn about different units as well.”
“My mentor was phenomenal. She offered sound advice and guidance and is a true asset to the University and OSUAP. Our mentor group could ask anything and we never felt silly or if our concerns weren’t valid. Our meetings were like meeting with a member of our own family. Our mentor/mentee pairings were spot on!”
Mentor perspectives:
“Knowing that I can be helpful to new employees and getting to know them. Seeing the university through fresh eyes. I thoroughly appreciate this program, give it a try, you won’t be sorry.”
“I learned things from my mentee as well. The differences in processes in which the academic side of the business and the medical side operate. Developed a rapport in which we can call one another with questions in the future. It was a great experience, sign up to be a mentor or mentee.”
“The leadership of the group built confidence that I have the skills and knowledge to pass on to junior or senior administrative staff here at OSU. The program is an asset to all OSUAP members. It provides professional development to those in the program and helps train someone in OSU business procedures or train a junior AP, what the role is all about and how to become a successful assistant and a confidence builder. This could definitely help someone “get to where they are going” in movement within their professional career.”