Welcome to the Undergraduate Physics Mentorship Program!
Navigating the early years of a physics degree can be incredibly challenging due to a “hidden curriculum,” like knowing about obscure resources or unwritten rules that are not explicitly covered in classes. We want to change that.
Program Overview
Our program is structured to support and empower first-year physics students by offering:
1. Personalized Support: Mentees will meet with mentors one-on-one to receive individual guidance based on their needs.
2. Community Building: By connecting with upperclassmen, mentees will cultivate a sense of belonging within the UT physics community.
3. Professional Development: The program is designed to enhance mentees’ professional skills by improving their communication abilities via a common workplace platform, Slack, and by requiring them to proactively schedule and manage meetings.
How It Works
1. Mentor Selection: Mentees will review short bios of potential mentors and choose their top five matches. At our Kick-Off Event on September 27th from 5:30-7:00 pm, mentees will personally meet with their top mentors. After these introductions, mentees will select their yearlong mentor. Please note that while we strive to match every mentee with a mentor, we cannot guarantee that all mentors will be paired.
2. Training and Resources: To ensure a successful mentoring experience, both mentors and mentees will participate in an initial training session developed with a behavioral scientist specializing in building positive learning communities. Mentors lacking knowledge in specific areas will be connected with resources such as Texas Career Engagement, and the student program coordinators will always be available through email and Slack for questions and concerns.
3. Meeting Expectations: Each mentor-mentee pair is expected to meet at least once a month throughout the academic year (for a total of six times). To facilitate program monitoring, mentees must complete a brief check-in survey each month (October, November, December/January, February, March, and April). The survey simply asks if a meeting occurred (with a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ response).
4. Survey Compliance: Mentees must complete the monthly surveys by the deadline to remain active in the program. Failure to complete the survey will result in a “suspension” from the program, meaning neither the mentor nor the mentee will receive their stipend until the survey is completed. Note that suspension is solely for missing the survey, not for missing a meeting. Additionally, both mentors and mentees must fill out an end-of-the-year survey.
5. Stipends: Mentors will receive a $100 annual stipend, with an additional $50 for each extra mentee they advise (up to a maximum of three mentees). Mentees will receive a $75 annual stipend. To receive the stipend, mentees and mentors must meet six times (exceptions for special circumstances can be made) and complete the required surveys.
6. Joining Late: Since we offer mentors on a rolling basis, mentees can still participate if they missed the deadline to sign up before the Kick-Off event. Mentees will choose their mentors based on written bios of the available mentors. To receive the full $75, they must meet at least six times. If not, they will receive a reduced stipend depending on their participation. Mentors who want to join late should email us.
We look forward to your participation in the Undergraduate Physics Mentorship Program and are excited to support your journey in physics!
If you have any questions or need further information, please feel free to contact us.