University of Central Florida: Online Mentoring Program
Who are we? University of Central Florida's Online Mentoring Program provides a great way for those attempting to re-enter the workforce or entering the workforce for the first time to learn from experienced professionals anonymously and confidentially through our secure website. Some Quick Facts About the Program:
- You will be able to choose your mentor from a group of experienced volunteers.
- Confidentiality is a priority, so both you and your mentor will stay anonymous throughout the program.
- Chat sessions will take place one-on-one on our website that is specially designed for this program. It is designed similar to the messaging services offered to the general public.
- Chat session will take place once a week for a pre-determined number of weeks. Each chat session lasts for 30 minutes and will take place at the same time and day every week.
*If you want more information or have any problems contact Kim, Monica, or Jackie at wfmentoring@yahoo.com or 954-461-4131.
Previous Populations
- Nursing
- Nursing students face increased pressures as class sizes are raised, and demands are increased. In conjunction with Partners for Healthy Living, this mentoring program attempts to help these nursing students meet their full potential. Nursing students from several local community colleges are requesting online mentors to advice them as far as career paths, stress management, and work-family balance. These nursing students represent a wide demographic, and are interested in a variety of nursing fields and are at different stages of schooling. The match between mentor and protege is 6 weeks long.
- Apply to be an online nurseing mentor if you are a nurse with more than 2 years of experience in any field of nursing.
- Paramore
- As part of the Youth Enrichment Services grant, the online mentoring program assists at-risk youth in the downtown Paramore neighborhood. Through a local community center, youths in this area are able to attain mentors to help them with career and general life advice. These youths are 18 to 21 years old. The match between mentor and protege is 6 weeks long.
- Apply to be an online paramore mentor if you are in college, a college graduate, or have more than 5 years of career experience.
- High Schools
- Also through the Youth Enrichment Services grant, the online mentoring program assists at-risk youths from local high schools. In partnership with Project Compass and Positive Pathways, youths are assisted who may have disciplinary problems or attendance issues at local high schools. These programs are designed to help individuals acheive personal strength, career readiness, and academic power. The demographic represented is 14 - 18 years old. The match between mentor and protege is 6 weeks long.
- Apply to be an online high school mentor if you are in college, a college graduate, or have more than 5 years of career experience.
- UCF Mentoring
- Junior and Senior level students partner with incoming Freshmen, as well as transfer students, to help guide them through their transition into UCF life.
- Topics of discussion can include, but are not limited to: classes, career ambitions, stress reducers, and information about the Orlando area.
- Sessions are 4 weeks long and last a half hour each session.
How to Become Involved in the Program
If you are interested in being a mentor for our program, email us at wfmentoring@yahoo.com
You will then receive more information about our program via email, and will receive a registration form that you will be required to fill out.
You will then be registered on our website and will be listed in the pool of available mentors that our targeted populations of proteges search through. You provide your available times for sessions.
If you are interested in being a protege for our program, you must be a part of one of our target populations. These populations currently include Nursing Students at Central Florida area community colleges. Please contact Dr. Kim Smith-Jentsch to volunteer as a mentor "mailto:wfmentoring@yahoo.com">wfmentoring@yahoo.com
How to Start Your Chat Sessions
1. First, go to: http://psychmentoringtest.cos.ucf.edu/login.php
2. Next, you will put your username and password. For your password, the default password is uppercase letter P followed by your birth date (PYYMMDD). For example, if you were born August 26, 1957 your password would be: P570826. Use this password only if you did not creat your own password when you registered. If you cannot remember your password, there is a link that will direct you to reset your password. *If you have any problems logging on to the website don't hesitate to contact us for help at wfmentoring@yahoo.com or 954-461-4131.
3. Once you have entered the website, a button should immediately appear that will say "enter chat" clicking on this bow will bring you into the chat room. Once your mentor has entered, you will see their screen name next to yours in your designated chat room. The "enter chat" button will only appear 5 minutes before your scheduled chat time, and will disappear an hour after your chat session is scheduled to start. If you are scheduled to have a chat, and the button does not appear, click the "index" tab on the left side of your screen. If the button still does not appear, contact Kim for help at wfmentoring@yahoo.com or 954-461-4131.
4. If you and your mentor discuss rescheduling a session, please contact us so that we can change the time in the website to allow you access to the chatroom.