UNIVERSITY MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

OVERVIEW

The University Mentorship Program (UMP) connects new Gators with dedicated faculty and staff mentors who offer guidance, encouragement, and insight into academic and professional development. Beyond one-on-one mentorship, UMP creates intentional spaces for students to form meaningful connections with one another through weekly events, shared experiences, and community-based programming. Whether through collaborative workshops, social gatherings, or campus engagement opportunities, UMP empowers students to build their network, deepen their relationship with UF, and find their place within the Gator community.

PROGRAM EXPECTATIONS

SEMESTER COMMITMENT

UMP requires a semester commitment. You may participate multiple times.

CONNECT MONTHLY

Mentors and mentees must connect once a month, either in-person or virtually.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Participate in events and activities that foster connection, belonging, and shared experiences with fellow students and/or mentors.

GOAL ACCOUNTABILITY

Mentor pairs work together to create personal, professional, and academic goals for the mentee’s first year in college, and check-in often.

SUPPORT

Mentors provide support and encouragement where needed and connect mentees to campus resources and involvement opportunities that align with their interest, goals, and needs.

BECOME A FACULTY/STAFF MENTOR

UMP provides an opportunity for incoming students from a variety of backgrounds to me mentored by a full-time faculty or staff member who supports and guides their transition to UF.

In the program, students are assigned to a full-time faculty or staff member. We ask that the faculty or staff member make a serious effort to maintain their relationship with their mentee(s) by scheduling monthly meetings with the student throughout the academic year. The mentoring time commitment is approximately 1-2 hours per month throughout the academic year.

Participants in the program agree this kind of interaction is positive and productive and assists greatly in making this large university more personal for students. We are looking for supportive faculty and staff members from various areas of discipline, expertise, and backgrounds who are willing to support our incoming new to UF students.