The mentoring program is more than a learning experience; it’s a whole new way to approach college.
The mentoring program started in 1994 and in 2008 they are still growing and making improvements in students’ lives.
Their office is located in University South, room 207, in the Academic Success Center.
The program today is made up of 186 mentees, as they call them and 143 mentors and peer mentors.
June Huggins, director of Center of Mentoring has been there since 1995.
She started working part time on the mentor board and as the program grew the position grew to full time.
“Mentoring matters,” Huggins said. “The program is doing great and has grown tremendously through the years.”
“The reports show that participants are persisting at a higher rate than the general student,” Huggins said.
They not only help you throughout your college degree but they also help you get ready for the switch from high school to college.
The mentor program also has two other programs the Access to Success Program, and the IU Southeast Scholars program.
The IUS scholars work with the scholars here at IUS campus.
The Access to Success is a one-year program that helps you make the transition to college by working one on one with a mentor.
The program introduces you to the different resources, services and the non-academic sides of the campus.
They work with three different kinds of IUS students, Twenty First Scholars, minority students, and adult learners 25 and older.
The program has three major components, an aggressive peer mentoring plan, a mentor that has two mentees.
They have also added the Collegiate Summer Institute, which meets four Fridays in July from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
They participate in a mock classroom schedule where you will talk to various people and go to various places on campus.
Various staff and faculty come and talk about things such as student ID’s, parking permits, financial aide, and career services.
You will also work with mentors to learn basic technology skills, take placement tests, and try to figure your schedule for the fall term.
When you sign up for the mentoring program you take a survey about your interests, diversity, and academics.
The mentors that have signed up take a survey and also attend an orientation. And they pair you with someone with similar interests.
“One student at a time is our motto,” Huggins said. “That’s how we do it.”
People can just sign up to be a mentor and sometimes they go out and try to recruit people.
They always have a table during week of welcome and they also visit first-year seminar classes to try to recruit mentors.
Something new last year was added to the program and that was the Mentoring Scholarship Fund.
Last spring Valerie Allen was awarded the first scholarship for $800.
The center for mentoring has an advisory board that meets once a month to discuss progress and new recruits.
They also help finding donors for the scholarship fund.
If you are interested in joining the program you can contact June Huggins at 812-941-2516.
By BRITTANY ELMORE
Staff Writer
blelmore@ius.edu
