Engaging Alumni as Coaches and Mentors to Students

Kathryn Liede, Director of Alumni RelationsKatie Maloney, Assoc. Director, Student/Alumni Relations

Students + Alumni = • MIT & Alumni Association Student Programs• Leveraging Partnerships• Coaching vs Mentoring• Mentoring Programs

– International Graduate Student Mentorship Program– Institute Career Assistance Network (ICAN)

• Coaching Program– Alan’73 & Terri Spoon Community Catalyst Leadership

Program

• 6,000 Graduate Students• 4,000 Undergraduate • 20,000 Local Alumni• 8,000 Volunteers• 122,000 Alumni

Collaborators: Working together to connect students and alumni

MIT Alumni Association Student Programs:•Part of the Alumni Relations Team

• Associate Director, Student/Alumni Relations(FT)

• Senior Administrative Assistant(FT)

• GSC President• GSC Secretary• Graduate Orientation Chair• GSC Social Chair

• Associate Dean of Student Life

• Assistant Dean of Student Activities

Coach and Mentor Defined

Coach• Learner-focused• Future-focused• Goals and work driven by

the student• Coaches listen and inquire• A collaborative, mutual

endeavor

Mentor• Advice-driven• Allow for mutual

exploration of issues that both parties understand

• A mentor’s greater experience is usually a key part of the process

• Great potential for ongoing exchange

International Graduate Student Mentorship Program

• Organized by the Graduate Student Council

• 150 First Year International Students

• 90 Local Alumni, 60 current graduate students volunteer

Institute Career Assistance Network (ICAN)

• Alumni Advisor (3632) • Advisor to Grad Student (2314)• Advisor to Undergraduate (2332) • Offers Internship (677)

Virtual Online Mentor

Outcomes - Mentoring

Positive• Provides volunteer

opportunities open to many alumni

• Alumni excited to connect with students and offer support and advice

• Excellent way to introduce students to alumni association services

Challenges• “Pay it Forward” – giving

students permission to contact alumni even with “nothing to offer”

• Building culture of courtesy• Some alumni not contacted or

fully utilized• Managing expectations of

mentors• ICAN is passive until

approached

• 50 Juniors • 36 Coaches

• 5 new in 2010-11• 31 Returning

• 6 month program (Oct – Apr)

Program Design

• Coaches vs. Mentors• Coach Training• Self-Assessment• Experiential• Celebrate Diverse forms of Leadership• Reflection

Nuts & Bolts

• Marketing• Application/Selection• Matching• Timeline• Orientation Conference and Educational

Sessions• Budget

CCLP Coaching Roadmap

1. Relationship Building2. Goal Setting 3. Refining the Goal and

Making a Plan4. Feedback and Reflection5. Ongoing Coaching

Outcomes – CCLP CoachingPositive• Alumni Response• Coaching Relationships• Transformational Experience• Ongoing relationships • Community of Coaches• Donor stewardship &

engagement• Support from

Administration/Institute Visibility

Challenges• Identification of Alumni• Quality Control• Meeting Diverse Needs• Managing Expectations:

Coaching• Cohort Building• Scalability

Materials Available

• Community Catalyst Program Overview– Road Map for Coaching

• Sample emails for students to contact career advisors

• International Student Mentorship Program alumni volunteer invitation text

• More specifics for any program, please just ask