The College of Engineering invites you to participate in one of our mentoring programs in the Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity.
Options available are:
- AHORA Profiles (Academic Hispanic OutReach Alliance)
- BEST Profiles (Black Engineering Support Teams)
- GUEST Profiles (General Undergraduate Engineering Support Teams)
- WEST Profiles (Women in Engineering Support Teams)
If you decide this program is for you, you will find out our mentors are already on the ball even before you arrive for fall semester. You will receive a phone call from one of our mentors who will introduce him or herself and help you with any questions or concerns. ANY questions! They are available to help with advice about what to prepare for move-in, such as what supplies you should bring or what you should wait to buy after you move in. This first contact will show you what a great resource your mentor can be!
On the Friday before classes begin, you will be invited to attend the CEED Welcome Picnic. This will be a great chance to meet the mentors and other mentees in the program and hit the ground running, making connections on campus. For the first two weeks of the semester, you will attend large events hosted by the mentors and the Peer Leaders who coordinate the mentoring program. These events are designed to help you get to know the mentors and other freshmen mentees. At the end of the two weeks, if you decide to stay in the program, you will be assigned to a small group. The first two weeks are intended to give you a chance to see if the program will be a good fit for you. If at the end of the two weeks you decide not continue in the program, you will be given a chance to opt out.
Once small groups are formed at the end of the first two weeks, you will meet once a week with your mentor and other mentees. Your small group will determine when you would like to meet based on your schedules. Some meetings will be on campus while others will be off campus. The off-campus meetings will be a great chance for your mentor to help you get to know the community around campus and take you to a meal compliments of CEED! The small groups will meet for the remaining eight weeks of the program.
Two large social events where all mentors and mentees interact will take place during the semester. One of the events will be held after the first engineering exam where you will enjoy the opportunity to unwind and relax after all your studying – this event will be held at the BreakZONE on campus and will be free – pizza, pool, ping pong, and bowling. The other large event will be at the end of the 10 weeks and will give you a chance to thank your mentor for all he or she has done for you. We traditionally have Buffalo Wild Wings and Macado’s cater this event for us.
At the heart of all this activity and planning are engineering students who genuinely care about helping you have an excellent experience as a new Hokie. This program is supported by CEED staff, but it is truly run by the Peer Leaders and mentors. We hope you decide to join us!
