Overview
UCI Summer Session offers current UCI undergraduate students the opportunity to develop leadership and mentorship skills through a formal Leadership Development Program. Through this hands-on experience, mentors develop programmatic events, provide feedback on the interests and needs of current students, create a warm and engaging environment, and work alongside Summer Session Staff Leads to enhance the experiences of students in our summer programs.
As a mentor, you will build your resume and gain valuable leadership experience while making a positive impact on Summer Session students. You will also exercise commitment and responsibility, and gain public speaking and decision-making skills through the planning and implementation of summer events.
Mentors are recruited from Summer Session's Special Programs alumni pool and from across the UCI campus. Mentors work in groups to support the various needs of specific Summer Session student populations, including:
How to Apply
Applications to join the Leadership Development Program open in October. For more information on the Leadership Development Program and how to apply, please e-mail us at summer-leadership@uci.edu or visit the Summer Session Student Life Office located in Summer Session Building B, room 105 (building #230 on the campus map).
Are you a returning mentor? Please send an email to summer-leadership@uci.edu to apply for a Lead Mentor position.
Who Should Attend
Students who are...
- Eager and enthusiastic about contributing to the success and development of Summer Session students
- Have a strong desire to help others
- Are motivated to learn and be mentored
- Strong dedication to the team
- Interested in gaining leadership skills and experience
- Committed and dedicated to projects
- Open to constructive criticism
- Exercise sound decision making based on good judgment and program goals
- Want experience with events and event coordination
Program Learning Outcomes
As part of the Leadership Development Program mentors will receive training by participating in, workshops, seminars, and team-building activities that are designed to foster and develop intercultural competency, interpersonal skills, mentorship skills, and leadership skills.
By participating in the Leadership Development Program, students will be able to...
Intercultural Competence
- Develop awareness around working and participating in a diverse learning environment and community.
- Gain an understanding for the need to be culturally sensitive and considerate of different opinions and points of view.
Mentorship Skills
- Develop an understanding of the differences between friendship, mentorship, and role-modeling to become effective peer leaders.
- Gain knowledge on campus resources and services to effectively share with special programs participants as liaisons to the campus.
- Engage with program participants regularly and consistently by developing and fostering relationships throughout the program.
Leadership and Communication Skills
- Gain experience in practicing programming skills through event planning, budgeting, and marketing.
- Learn how to communicate effectively in a team while developing an awareness of their own communication styles and the styles of others.
- Conceptualize the vision, goals and objectives of all summer session special and transition programs.
- Develop leadership and peer-mentoring skills
- Gain successful program development skills, including conceptualizing the vision and goals of the program, budgeting and event planning
- Learn to work proactively as part of a team
2016-2017 Training Topics*
- Leadership Preferences/Styles
- Being a Mentor and a Role Model
- Public Speaking and Communication
- Seminars by various campus resource offices, including the LGBT Resource Center, Counseling Center, and Cross-Cultural Center
- Event Planning
- Transitioning to the University from an International Student Perspective
- Closing Reflection and Capstone Event
*Tentative, subject to change.
Duties & Responsibilities
The mentor appointment starts in winter quarter and continues until the end of summer (September 2017).
In general, all mentors...
- Provide feedback on the interests and needs of current students;
- Participate in weekly meetings and training seminars during the winter, spring, and summer quarters;
- Act as liaison to all program participants and excite summer students about joining the UCI community including introducing them to campus resources; student clubs and organizations; research opportunities; and more!
- Attend and create a warm, welcoming, and friendly energy at all program events including but not limited to orientation/check-in weekends in June and August and at events and workshops facilitated throughout Summer Session, June-September;
- Conceptualize, plan, and implement academic and networking events, as part of a team, for students enrolled in Summer Session programs;
- Work alongside Summer Session Staff Leads to enhance the experiences of students in our summer programs;
- Attend weekly Town Hall trainings or Team Meetings during Winter and Spring quarters;
- Assist in the implementation of the upcoming special programs during Summer Session I and II (be available for roughly 20 hours per week);
- Assist students with their immediate needs during the summer.