1stGen@Iowa Mentor Roles and Responsibilities

Thank you for supporting first-generation students at the University of Iowa! Though this mentor network is not structured for formal programming (mentors are not formally matched with students), it is focused on first-gen undergraduate, graduate, and professional students who want to connect with current UI faculty and staff who can help them on their college journey and serve in an informal mentoring capacity.

When you become a 1stGen@Iowa Mentor, you let students know you will support them by:

• Serving as a resource and source of support for students,
• Celebrating first-generation students and recognizing their achievements,  
• Disseminating important information and special announcements from 1stGen@Iowa staff via your communication channels, and
• Being part of our campus-wide network of support by being an advocate and champion for first-gen student success.

Students know they can confidentially reach out to you, knowing you have already committed yourself to connecting with you.

Who is eligible to serve as a 1stGen@Iowa mentor?
University of Iowa faculty and staff (currently employed as well as retired/emeritus faculty and staff who still have access to their Uiowa email accounts and are still actively engaged in campus activities) are eligible to serve as 1stGen@Iowa Mentors. 

As our capacity to develop more resources and programming grows, we hope to add other groups like students, alumni, community members, etc. at a later time. 

What is expected of a 1stGen@Iowa Mentor?
This mentoring and advocacy opportunity does not match or assign mentors with mentees. Instead, the 1stGen@Iowa Mentor Network website serves as a way to connect first-gen students who have questions with faculty and staff who have answers. This means, when you sign up to join us, you're offering to serve as a resource when students contact you. There is not an expectation that you serve in a long-term mentoring role and you can participate as your schedule allows. Additionally, not all mentors will be contacted by students so some semesters there might be almost no time commitment. 

Mentors will receive periodic communications from our office that will provide you with important information and announcements. We rely heavily on our network of mentors to help us communicate information with the rest of campus and ask that you be willing to forward these emails to relevant parties within your own networks. 

Mentors are also encouraged to visit the Ways To Make a Difference page where you can download first-gen emblems and handouts. 

When can new mentors join the 1stGen@Iowa Mentor Network?
New mentors may request to be added to the 1stGen@Iowa Mentor Network at the start of each fall and spring semester. This is also when current mentors are given an opportunity to revise their mentor bio information or request to be removed from the network. Keep on eye on this website each September and January for new enrollment information.
 

Are you a current UI student, alum, or other member of the Hawkeye family who would like to be part of this network of support?

Thank you for your support of first-gen students at the University of Iowa! We appreciate your dedication to our students however, at this time, we are only accepting current or retired UI staff or faculty members for the 1stGen@Iowa Mentor Network. As the network grows, we hope to add additional groups of mentors so check back here in future semesters. Please feel free to contact us for more information.