TAILORING MENTOR TRAINING AND MENTORING ACTIVITIES FOR VARIOUS GEOSCIENCES AUDIENCES

Two programs at the Department of Geosciences at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee include mentoring programs as part of their overall tactics aimed at recruitment and retention of students into Geosciences degree programs. Although the programs share similar goals, different mentor and mentee audiences require distinct mentor training protocols and activity design. In GO FoRWARD, a program designed to attract and retain historically excluded groups in the geosciences major, current graduate students and undergraduate majors mentor early career college students during a paid immersive summer experience designed for those curious about geosciences. Student mentor training focuses on developing confidence in their value and potential efficacy as mentors, defining relationships and boundaries with mentees, learning about mentoring needs for diverse populations, and supporting mentees in program specific situations and group dynamics. Student mentors are paid hourly for their work in GO FoRWARD, which allows for prioritized, ongoing, and flexible training. Mentoring activities are fluid and evolve within the context of program activities. In contrast, LET’S GEO provides targeted workforce training for students already enrolled in Geosciences BS, MS, and PhD degree programs. As part of LET’S GEO, students are paired with professional geoscientist mentors who primarily work in industries outside of academia. LET’S GEO mentors volunteer up to ten hours to share their expertise. Therefore, mentor training activities require minimal time, and guided mentoring activities require minimal preparation for mentors. Mentor training is approximately twenty minutes and includes short videos and readings on mentor roles, how a mentee's background may affect the mentoring relationship, and mentoring tips. Mentoring activities are prescriptive, but adaptive to a particular student’s career stage and goals. Student mentees are responsible for producing a product (such as a career exploration exercise, resume, or SMART goal) prior to each meeting. During meetings, mentors review the mentee’s assignment and discuss a short list of defined topics. These two contrasting mentor programs highlight the need to tailor both training and activities to meet needs of different types of mentor and mentee groups.