alumni mentor program – students
Established by the UCLA Alumni Scholars Club and now in its 21st year, the UCLA Alumni Mentor Program continues to foster meaningful relationships between UCLA alumni and current UCLA undergraduate and graduate students. The connections made in this program help prepare our students for a successful future and leave a lasting impact on our campus community.
key dates
| Dates | Tasks |
|---|---|
| Nov. – June | Ongoing mentorship meetings. Alumni and students determine the format (e.g., phone, in-person, video), frequency and structure (e.g., 1:1 or group). *Please note: You may still receive student requests during this time period. |
Mentors:*If you are at your max capacity for student mentees or no longer have the bandwidth to serve, you will want to unselect the “UCLA Alumni Mentor Program” box under “Offer Mentorship” in your profile. You can do so by clicking on “Edit Profile,” then scrolling down to “Offer Mentorship” and unchecking “UCLA Alumni Mentor Program.” This will signal that you are no longer available for mentorship and thus no longer accepting requests.
how do I participate?
UCLA Alumni: Offer Mentorship for 2025-2026 UCLA Alumni Mentor Program
Follow the steps below on how to sign-up TO BE A MENTOR for the 2025-26 UCLA Alumni Mentor Program! Questions? Email us at alumnimentor@alumni.ucla.edu.
starting the mentorship
Welcome to the UCLA Alumni Mentor Program!
Mentors can be a vital part of a student’s career and personal development, but this is just the start of a year-long endeavor.
Below are next steps for you as you begin your mentorship:
- Understand Program and Expectations — As a participant, you agree to follow the True Bruin Values (integrity, excellence, accountability, respect) and the Principles of Community. Violations may result in removal from the program.
- Complete the Program Pre-Survey — Fill out our program pre-survey to help us better understand your background and goals.
- Watch the Orientation Video and Review Resources — View the UCLA Alumni Mentor Program Orientation Video to prepare for a successful experience.
- Understand Your Commitment — As part of the program, you are committing to connect with your mentee at least once a month until June.
- Connect with Your Mentee on UCLA ONE — If you haven’t already, connect with your mentee through UCLA ONE to schedule your first one-hour meeting.
- Review and Complete the Mentorship Agreement — Your student will prepare topics for your first conversation, but review and complete the Mentorship Agreement to set expectations, goals, and communication preferences.
- Assess Fit and Alignment — During your first few meetings, determine if the mentorship is a good fit. Be honest about your availability and expertise. If it’s not a match, you may end the mentorship through UCLA ONE. If it is, commit to growing the connection.
While this is just the beginning of a long-term endeavor, there will be situations where the mentorship feels stagnated. Do not hesitate to reach out to our staff if you find that you need assistance in reaching your student or working through an obstacle. We will be sending out monthly e-newsletters with resources and mentorship ideas. We encourage you to be honest if things aren’t going as you thought and to find compromise as you move forward. If a student is truly not a fit, you can cancel the mentorship on UCLA ONE and work with a different student.
Thank you again for your willingness to serve our UCLA community in this way. Your insights will make an indelible impact on your mentee.
Please look to explore our FAQ page for commonly received program questions. For specific questions please contact alumnimentor@alumni.ucla.edu.
mentorship meetings
Activities for Future Meetings
Mentorship is a two-way relationship that benefits both you and your student. Engaging in meaningful activities helps your student grow while providing opportunities for you to share your expertise and gain fresh perspectives. Below are ideas organized by values, interests, academics and professional goals to guide your future meetings.
Values
- Invite your student to shadow you at work or visit your workplace to gain insight into your professional environment.
- Discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in your field to encourage your student’s awareness and reflection on important workplace values.
- Consider completing a values or personality assessment together (e.g., VIA Character Strengths, Myers-Briggs, DISC) to better understand each other’s working styles and communication
Interests
- Explore your student’s interests beyond academics and suggest ways to connect them to career opportunities.
- Recommend professional events or community groups aligned with their passions.
- Engage in a shared activity or project that connects to your student’s interests.
Academics
- Talk through your student’s course selections, research, internships, or study abroad plans and offer guidance based on your experience.
- Provide constructive feedback on academic projects or presentations.
Professional Goals
- Help your student clarify and set achievable short- and long-term career goals.
- Practice networking or interview skills, and review resumes or LinkedIn profiles to prepare them for the job market.
- Connect your student with relevant job shadowing, internships or professional development opportunities.
faq
Why should I participate in the UCLA Alumni Mentor Program?
UCLA students are willing and eager to learn from your professional and personal experiences. We want to ensure that they are prepared in every aspect possible upon graduating from UCLA and entering the workforce. With your wisdom and guidance, we can work together to make sure UCLA students get the most out of their education by connecting with their UCLA Alumni Network. In the spirit of Bruins helping Bruins, we hope the mentorship provides lasting relationships that will continue to grow and evolve far beyond Westwood.
What is expected of me as a mentor?
The UCLA Alumni Mentor Program is designed to engage alumni volunteers of all backgrounds and experience levels. Upon your approval of a student’s request, you commit to a mentorship until June 2026. We encourage mentors and mentees to connect on a regular basis (e.g., once a month phone call, in person meeting or email conversation). However, the frequency and form of communication are things you both can determine. Throughout the year we’ll offer tips on effective mentorship techniques, topics to discuss with your student and suggested activities to connect. Our team will also be standing by to answer any questions you might have. Prior mentorship experience is not required.
How long is the commitment?
The commitment as a mentor lasts until June of the upcoming year.
How will a mentor match be made?
Once you register for the UCLA Alumni Mentor Program through UCLA ONE (uclaone.com) you’ll be part of our exclusive, online mentoring community. UCLA students will have a chance to register and review mentor profiles to find a mentor who fits their interests and career goals. Once a student finds the ideal mentor, the student will click on the profile and send a message to request mentorship. From there, alumni will review mentorship request(s) and approve student(s) accordingly.
How many students can I mentor?
We recommend you mentor one to two students throughout the year. Most of our volunteers choose to mentor one student.
What if I receive more than one request for mentorship?
If you receive multiple requests, you will be able to review each student’s profile before confirming a request. We hope you’ll accept as many mentees as you feel fit to mentor, but you do have the option to decline a student if you simply don’t have time or think it’s the wrong fit. We recommend you mentor one to two students throughout the year. Most of our volunteers choose to mentor one student.
I’m still receiving messages from students requesting mentorship, yet I have already accepted my maximum number of mentees?
Once you have approved your mentee(s) request for mentorship, you will want to unselect the “UCLA Alumni Mentor Program” box under “Offer Mentorship” in your profile. You can do so by clicking on “Edit Profile,” then scrolling down to “Offer Mentorship” and unchecking “UCLA Alumni Mentor Program.” This will signal that you are no longer available for mentorship and thus no longer accepting requests.
What if I want to continue mentoring the student beyond the academic year?
Alumni are welcome to continue mentoring their students as long as they are willing and able.
Are events and program activities mandatory?
Events and programs are not required. The great thing about this program is that your mentorship connection can be carried out as the mentor and mentee see fit. However, we do encourage you to attend as many program events as possible, both in person and virtual, to build a strong connection with your student.
Do I have to be in Los Angeles to participate as a mentor?
You do not have to live in Los Angeles to participate. You can mentor by connecting with your student via phone calls, email, Skype, Zoom, UCLA ONE video chat or FaceTime and still be a great alumni mentor. We will provide virtual events and discussions for you and your mentee to participate in.
How do I sign up to be a mentor?
It is quick and simple to sign up to be a mentor. Please follow these steps to sign up on UCLA ONE.
What if I don’t receive any requests for mentorship from students?
We encourage you to complete your UCLA ONE profile by including all relevant professional, academic and volunteer experience. In addition, we have included the opportunity to answer the question, “Why do you want to mentor a student?” That will provide students with the best information to request mentorship. If you aren’t requested for mentorship through this program, Alumni Affairs offers many opportunities to volunteer your time and expertise – https://alumni.ucla.edu/get-involved/.
How do I change my affiliation from student to alumni so I can offer mentorship?
Send an email requesting an update to ace@support.ucla.edu with a link to your profile.
How do I update my UCLA ONE email address? Does my email need to be UCLA-affiliated?
To update your email address, go to your UCLA ONE settings by clicking on the downward arrow next to your profile icon at the top-right corner of the page, then clicking “Settings.” In your Account Settings, enter the email address you’d like to use, then click “SAVE.” Verify your email change by going to your email inbox and clicking the verification link sent to you. Please feel free to use whatever email address works best for you, even if it is not a UCLA-affiliated email.
How to End Your Mentorship
Mentor Scenarios and Templates
Sometimes ending a mentorship can be confusing because the relationship may or may not have been a positive one. Every situation is unique, but we’ve shared a couple recommended actions based on past mentor and mentee experiences. We encourage our mentors and mentees not to ghost each other, but be honest and up-front with one another if your situations have changed. It takes work to make a mentorship work, but if you don’t find it to be a fit, it is appropriate to end a mentorship before the year commitment is up. Take a look at the scenarios below to determine how to move forward and end your mentorship correctly.
Mentor Scenario #1: You and your mentee met once, but they have not reached out to set up a regular meeting. It’s been one or two months since they’ve connected with you and you’ve sent one or two emails to attempt to connect.
Action: Sometimes a mentee is overwhelmed with their plate, and doesn’t quite know how to end a mentorship that they aren’t prepared for. If the mentee has made you wait long enough, we encourage you to send an email like the one below and then “Decline” their request in UCLA ONE.
Dear ___,
I’ve sent ___ emails to you, but I haven’t heard back from you. It seems like you are not able to keep the mentorship going. I will stop our mentorship now. I encourage you to not be afraid to communicate with future alumni. I know this year has been a lot, so hope you are well.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Mentor Scenario #2: Your mentee has been difficult to connect with, and irresponsible in keeping scheduled meetings. They are not respectful of your time, and being their mentor has not been rewarding as it feels like you are chasing them to meet. Don’t hesitate to give feedback, but do be thoughtful in your delivery.
Action: As a mentor, your time is valued, and if the mentee is not being respectful, we recommend you send an email like the following:
Dear Name,
It was nice connecting with you last week, but I wanted to share a quick bit of feedback. I have felt like you aren’t invested in the mentorship, and wanted to check in to see if you are still interested in keeping this going. From my impressions, I think it will be most beneficial if we cancel our mentorship. If you feel like you’d like to take on a mentorship, I hope that you would consider doing it during a time when you are more available. I’ll go ahead and cancel our mentorship on UCLA ONE to remove the commitment from your plate.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Mentor Scenario #3: You and your mentee have had a great mentorship, and you feel connected to your mentee. However, you feel like you would like to take on a new mentee next year.
Action: Set some time to do a wrap-up meeting with your mentee. During the meeting, share some milestones and lessons you’ve learned. Let your mentee know that you have valued this year, and that they’ve inspired you to continue being a mentor. Let your mentee know that you’ll be taking on new mentees at the next mentorship period and that they can stay in communication with you throughout the year and set up times to meet.