The CPS Mentor Café program is being established to help new graduate students (MSc and PhD) navigate life at UTM. New graduate students wishing to participate in the program will be matched with a current graduate student volunteer.
This program aims to encourage: 1) mentors to develop leadership and professional skills while sharing their institutional knowledge gained throughout their graduate studies at CPS/UTM, and 2) mentees to establish a support person to connect with throughout their 1st year of study, facilitating their transition to and success within a new research environment.
Expectations of Mentors:
- You will be assigned 1-2 mentees, at your discretion, and must be willing to regularly meet with mentees throughout the one-year duration of the mentorship. CPS will reimburse up to $10 total for coffee (or other drinks/snacks) for up to 12 meetings.
- Create an inclusive and respectful environment when interacting with mentees.
- Treat all discussions and interactions in confidence.
- Provide a mentee with guidance and assistance, where needed, throughout the 1st year of the mentee’s graduate study.
- Give informal advice on balancing research, TA’ship and other responsibilities.
- Introduce the mentee to departmental resources and other funding/award programs.
- Share ways to stay involved and connected with the CPS community.
Expectations of Mentees:
- Initiate regular meetings with the mentor throughout the one-year duration of the mentorship.
- Create an inclusive and respectful environment when interacting with the mentor.
- Be respectful of the mentor’s time—they are taking time out for you from their already busy schedule as they want you to be successful.
- Treat all discussions and interactions in confidence
Please sign up by using this MS Forms. We ask that you sign up by September 18. If you have any questions about this initiative, please contact Michelle at cpsgrad.utm@utoronto.ca.