 The Next Steps AmeriCorps

 Each member will mentor two freshmen students o The program will match you with the freshmen (but if you have any people in mind, please let your campus Administrators know!) o The program will also help you to set a meeting schedule o You will informally mentor each student for at least one hour/week (2 freshmen x 1 hour = 2 hrs/week)  Check p. 5 of your handbook for more information!

 Mentor two First- year student at your college campus for two hours each week as well as 6-8 hours of community service at an approved site.

 There will be monthly workshops provided at your campus site by either a pre-college access representative or by a Next Steps AmeriCorps staff member.  Workshops: o Orientation to AmeriCorps & volunteer Recruitment (September) o Seeking out on-campus supports (October), o Basic Budgeting (November), o Time Management (December), o Understanding Financial Aid and Completing the FAFSA (January), o Project Planning (February), o Putting service on your resume (March), o Life after Graduation (April) Mentors will use the information received in the monthly sessions to help mentor their mentees.

 Guidance through peer mentoring  What is a Next Steps Mentor? o a mentor extracts guidance from their own personal experiences to share with others in order to cultivate individuals as well as empowering mentees to discover the potential within themselves to succeed in the university and in their academic endeavors.  Ways in which you can help your mentee: o Share stories about your own educational career o Overcome fears, etc This is on page 9 in the student handbook

 You will be introduced to other student’s lives and sometimes to their personal experiences and secrets.  This is privileged information and you are not free to share it with your roommates, friends, classmates!  There are times when you MUST, in confidence, share this information with the professors, campus supervisors, or support staff if and when:  1. Your mentee is in danger of hurting himself/herself  2. Your mentee is in danger of being hurt by someone else  3. Your mentee is in danger of hurting someone else

 On your first mentor/mentee session, please set time aside; 1. Introduce yourself 2. Introduce the Mentor/Mentee Agreement Form  Read over together and come to an agreement of when and where one will meet every week for at least an hour.  Note: Can only have one designated location, time and location. Must be consistent.  Make sure to have a copy for your mentee and yourself to keep.  Mentee and mentor must sign contracts, and turn in to campus supervisor.  This in on page 12 in the Student Handbook

 Mentoring spaces MAY NOT be in one’s dorms or private homes, must be in appropriate public places such as library, study halls, campus coffee shops, and the campus supervisor has to approve the location as well.  Spend 70% of your time on a specific topic (ex. Resources on Campus, Choosing a Major, Time Management)  30% turning to your mentee  It will be your responsibility to do research ahead of time and create an agenda for yourself  Every time you meet with your mentee you have to fill out the Mentee session log in sheet (page 14). Must log in hours, sign both by mentee and yourself with a brief description of what was discussed. This will be collected by your campus administrators.  Campus administrators must be informed of where/when your mentoring sessions are taking place so they are able to check in during your session.

 Any activity that does not address a students’ college success. o Examples: Zumba (without a workshop on health etc. or specific notes on the content of the mentoring discussion pre/post zumba class.) Activities that are purely social, ie: parties, sorority/fraternity gatherings,  Anything that happens off campus. o If it’s a service activity, this must be approved by your campus administrator and the supervisor of the activity must sign the timesheet.  Campus administrators must check in, in person during mentor/mentee sessions.

 Study hall sessions at the library.  Taking your mentee to a supplemental talk or lecture on campus.  Attending an arts or cultural event on campus that could lead the mentee to join a group.  Attending an affinity group meeting to support their mentee.  Doing service together!  Attending workshops on career and internship skills.  If you’re unsure an activity fits in the guidelines, contact your campus administrator to have it approved prior to the event/activity.

 All Next Steps AmeriCorps members will be using OnCoprs to submit and track their hours. OnCorps is an electronic from where all hours will be submitted.  On page 8, you will find a schedule of when these timesheets are due. More information will be coming to you regarding this process. For now, just be aware that we you will be using an electronic sheet to track your hours.