video:  what is the Coach mentoring program? 

The benefits of establishing student/alumni mentoring programs are immense. Students will have the opportunity to connect with alums who were once “in their shoes” as undergraduate college students, who faced similar decisions to choose a major, think about graduate school or a profession, and simply “what to do with my life after Hanover College.”

 

Students will be able to ask their alumni mentors questions on various topics such as professional development, career and industry, relocation, and financial literacy. Alumni mentors will have the opportunity to be a “coach” to student mentees, helping navigate through challenges in an academic program, giving advice on building a strong resume, practicing how to interview for graduate school or job placement, and assisting in professional networking.

 

Through the COACH Mentoring Program, both students and alumni have the chance to build a stronger connection to the College, to invest time, energy, and focus on oneself with a well-suited support system. To uphold the mission of Hanover College, students and alums will be able to practice lifelong inquiry, transformative learning, and meaningful service.

Informal Mentoring Program

What is the Informal Coach Mentoring Program:  In Your Court?  The COACH Mentoring Program: In Your Court aims to connect all current students with alumni for specific or general mentorship. For alumni, the mentoring experience is not needed –but interest is! Resources and helpful guidebooks will enhance a mentoring skill set. For students, answers are not required –but an answer-seeking attitude is! What you will not see in this program is a lot of requirements. A core thought for this program was accessibility. For the program to be equitable for any student to participate, the program needs to allow flexibility, customization, and ownership of the mentorship between mentee and mentor.

Through mentorship, alumni will be able to relate to uncertain times, to share how they navigate through challenges, and to lend helpful information on a variety of topics. We understand that students have a lot of interests - so do alumni! A common interest that both students and alumni share is the Hanover experience, and alumni mentorship may be the motivator to a more successful life at and after Hanover.

Formal mentoring Program
The Formal Mentoring Program aims to connect sophomores with alumni mentors for a 1:1 relationship. For alumni who are interested in the formal mentoring program, the experience is not needed –but interest is! Training and monthly meetings will enhance a mentoring skill set. For students, you are not required to have the answers for everything – but having an answer-seeking attitude is!

The opportunity for a mentor who is not a parent, relative, or peer gives room for “real talk.” Many alumni will share their many interests, a range of insights and resources.  Mentees will be able to select from a variety of alumni mentors, create SMART Charts, set expectations, and work with their chosen mentor in all aspects for as long as they'd like.