The Computer and Information Science department at Cuyamaca College is very excited about establishing and fostering a mentor program for our female students. It has been repeatedly documented that young women, in order to persist in our male-dominated field, benefit greatly by having mentors to encourage and counsel them. It is our goal that, by December 2004, all of our first year * female students be paired with a second year ** female student mentor, and all of the second year women be paired with a female mentor employed in the Information Technology industry.
It is our hope that the industry mentors will serve in that capacity at least until their student has completed either an Associate Degree or Certificate in her area of emphasis. This will typically be 2 or 3 semesters.
To submit a request to partner with a mentor please follow this link and fill out the Mentor Data form.
To help other women by
becoming a mentor, contact Connie Elder at (619) 660-4321 or at
Connie.Elder@gcccd.net
Learn more of the benefits and requirements on How to partner with a mentor or become a mentor !
Partner with a mentor
Benefits of Having a Mentor
- Networking opportunities
- Having your own special trainer, someone to give you advice and help you set your goals
- Increase productivity by having contact with somebody that has experience and probably has been through what you are going through
- Get free support and information
- A mentor is someone that understands and provides guidance
- Access to practical information
Qualities that you can learn from a mentor include:
- social skills
- communication skills
- how to behave in your career environment
- patient
- how to work with other perspectives
- adaptability to changes
- good judment
- creativity
Protege Role:
- Contact your mentor regularly
- Develop specific ideas about you your mentor can best help you
- Be responsive to your mentor efforts to contact you
- Ask questions
Possible Protege Activities:
- A kick off luncheon with guest speaker once a year.
- Alumni Career Forum in conjunction with Women in Technology Club
- Job shadowing opportunities
- Regular telephone, email, or discussion group contact – initially initiated by the mentor
- Meet for coffee or lunch
- Occasional participation in Women in Technology Club events
- End of academic year wrap-up and awards
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Become a Mentor
Pros and Cons of Mentoring:
Why become a mentor?
- It’s fun!
- To achieve satisfaction
- Extend your contribution
- Network with other women in the industry
What is the cost of mentoring?
Qualities of a good Mentor:
- Good listener, observer, and problem solver
- Approachable and available
- Supportive and understanding
- Patient
- Kind and caring
- Friendly
Mentors Role:
- Foster achievement and success
- Encourage independence
- Identify resources and professional contacts
- Career advising/counseling
- Skill development consultation
Possible Mentor Activities:
- A kick off luncheon with guest speaker once a year.
- Alumni Career Forum in conjunction with Women in Technology Club
- Job shadowing opportunities
- Regular telephone, email, or discussion group contact – initially initiated by the mentor
- Meet for coffee or lunch
- Occasional participation in Women in Technology Club events
- Act as professional reference for the student
- End of academic year wrap-up and awards
Top
* first year is defined as having completed less than 15 CIS/CS units
** second year is defined as having completed 15+ CIS/CS units
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This project is supported in part by the National Science Foundation.
Opinions expressed here are of the authors and not necessarily those of the Foundation.
