The First Generation Initiative Mentor Program connects current UC Davis students with UC Davis graduate students through the shared experience of being a first-generation college student. Our goal for the program is to provide first-generation students the knowledge, confidence, and tools to grow their network and advance in their career endeavors.

Grad student mentors guide students who are interested in research and/or attending graduate school. From teaching the fundamentals -- What does research in your field look like? How can students get involved? What is peer review? What is graduate school? How do you apply?  -- to helping students find a spot in a lab or project that matches their skills and interests, you are providing a bridge to the student's next steps.

Commitment:
-Duration: Work with your mentee for one academic quarter. You’re welcome to continue to meet, but the stipend is only available during the initial quarter.
-Proactively connect every other week -- could be in-person, via email or Zoom -- and commit to expectations set with mentee. Initial outreach should be initiated by the mentee, however you can always encourage/remind the student as part of your mentorship practice.
-Serve as mentors to current UC Davis students about navigating their University and graduate school path through first hand advice. Listen with respect and openness.
-Use personal and professional experiences as a first-generation college student to support and provide insight into resources, career exploration, and professional development
-Help students develop their graduate school application by providing advice on GRE, interview advice, letter of recommendations, etc
-Help students recognize how their university experiences translate into desirable professional skills.  

Eligibility :
-Be currently enrolled as a graduate student at UC Davis
-First Generation college graduate (you were among the first generation in your family to earn a four-year college degree)
-Have at least one year of experience as a graduate student
-You have time to meet (in person or via Zoom) at least every other week during fall quarter

PROGRAM TIMELINE:
Week 1-2] Mentees are matched
[Week 3] Mentees reach out to mentor
[Weeks 3-9] Mentors and mentees meet biweekly, 4-5 times, during the quarter.
[Week 10] At the end of the quarter, we ask that all mentees and mentors complete a survey
Mentor pairs are free to continue meeting on their own after the quarter.

The mentoring relationship will last for the entire Fall Quarter beginning October 8, 2021. This program outcome will be evaluated at the end of the quarter on December 11, 2021.  Selected graduate student mentors will be compensated with a $200 stipend for the quarter.

APPLICATION DUE DATE : October 8, 2021 at 11:59 PM

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Shannen Recio : sjrecio@ucdavis.edu