FAU Mentoring Programs

First and Proud Alumni Mentoring Program

Main point of contact: Sherry Bees (sbees@fau.edu) 561-297-6028 or Indiraliz Gracia Camacho (igracia2020@fau.edu)

Description: The First and Proud Alumni Mentoring Program connects Florida Atlantic alums who have indicated they are first-gen to mentor current FAU students who are also first-gen. The program pairs FAU alums with upper-class junior and senior first-gen students in intentional 1:1 mentoring focused on career, life skills, and support.

Criteria students must meet: Upper-class junior and senior first-gen students

Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry Peer Mentors

Main point of contact: Alexis Miller (alexismiller@fau.edu) 561-297-2073

Description: The Peer Mentor Program is designed to help guide undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing research and inquiry, by providing student mentors. Each summer, 10 peer mentors are selected to serve as ambassadors for the Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry for one year. These students are active researchers who assist their peers in getting involved in research and inquiry by mentoring, hosting workshops, giving classroom presentations, and other activities.

Criteria students must meet:

Be in good academic standing at the university
Have a minimum of one semester of DIS/DIR or other documented research experiences completed before applying (Preference will be given to those applicants with more than one semester of documented research.)
Commit to a one-year agreement as a Peer Mentor (Summer through Summer)
Commit to active participation in the student club, Council for Scholarship and Inquiry (CSI)
Commit to continue research in the academic year as an active peer mentor

Honors in Biological Sciences – The Honors Research Thesis Pathway

Main point of contact: Evelyn Frazer (efrazier@fau.edu) 561-297-4472

Description: The Honors Research Thesis Pathway was designed to guide students working on their own research projects at any laboratory in Biology, and Neuroscience and Behavior to write a research proposal to submit for funding and an Honor’s Thesis. Upon successful completion of the courses and public presentation of their Honor’s Thesis students receive upper division honors distinction on their transcripts upon graduation.

Criteria students must meet:

Must be a major in the following: BA/BS Biology, Neuroscience & Behavior
Minimum 3.2 GPA at time of application and graduation
Minimum 20 credits in Biology coursework that must include the following:
- Biodiversity + Lab (requires a "B" or better)
- Biological Principles + Lab (requires a "B" or better)
- General Chemistry + Lab (I & II) (requires a "B" or better)

Minimum one semester of Directed Independent Research (DIR) credits
Recommendation Letter from a Biology Faculty Member (not the research mentor)

Applications are due July 28^th. Presentations are always scheduled the week before the fall semester begins. All applicants will receive an email to schedule the day/time of their presentation. Please see the FAU Academic Calendar for specific dates. More information at: biology.fau.edu/academics/undergraduate/biologyhonorsprogram-research-thesis.

The Honors in Biological Science Research Pathway Program

Main point of contact: Kailiang Jia (kjia@fau.edu) 561-297-0512

Description: The Honors in Biological Science Research Pathway program recognizes research accomplishments of talented undergraduates. Students conduct independent, supervised research, write a grant proposal with the option to submit and present a poster or seminar at a local, regional, national or international research conference/symposium describing the results of their honors research.

Criteria students must meet:

Must be a major in the following: BA/BS Biology, Neuroscience & Behavior or Major in Medical Biology Program
Minimum 3.2 GPA at time of application and graduation
Minimum 20 credits in Biology coursework that must include the following:
- Biodiversity + Lab
- Biological Principles + Lab
- General Chemistry + Lab (I & II)

Applications are accepted three times per year and students begin the semester following their application submission. To learn more, please visit: biology.fau.edu/academics/undergraduate/biologyhonorsprogram-research

University Honors Peer Academic Coaching

Main point of contact: Heather Smith (smithh@fau.edu)

Description: The University Honors Program is a 2-year honors program located on the Boca Raton campus, where mentoring occurs through the integration of peer academic coaching. Peer Academic Coaches play a pivotal part in the support first-year students as they transition to college life, offering personalized and group academic coaching for a wide range of subjects and academic success strategies.

Criteria students must meet: UHP Peer Academic Coaches and those they mentor must be active or former members of the University Honors Program.

FAU Tech Runway Mentor Program

Main point of contact: Beverly Marsh (marshb@fau.edu) 561-297-0927

Description: Florida Atlantic Tech Runway® is a South Florida public-private partnership that serves as a hub to accelerate technology development and incubate startup companies. Tech Runway seeks exceptional entrepreneurs and startups with high-growth potential and disruptive technologies. Companies accepted into the Venture Program often have a strategic alignment with FAU's research focus areas. The FAU Tech Runway Mentor Program provides mentoring to the startup companies that are accepted into the Venture Program. Applications are open twice a year.

Criteria students must meet: Startup must have been accepted into the Venture Program.

Educate Tomorrow

Main point of contact: Catherine Madro (caroca2014@fau.edu) 561-297-3064

Description: Educate Tomorrow at FAU is a comprehensive program designed specifically for students who have experienced foster care or homelessness. The program provides students with wrap-around services from admission to graduation, with the goal of creating a strong foundation of support, academic coaching, career advising, and access to services on and off campus.

Criteria students must meet: Students in the Educate Tomorrow program are either foster youth or students experiencing homelessness who have either a DCF Waiver or Homeless Exemption with FAU.

First-Year and Transfer Connections

Main point of contact: Oriana Fernandez (mentoring@fau.edu) 561-297-0821

Description: Whether a first-year or transfer student, the program introduces students new to FAU to a faculty, staff, graduate student, or undergraduate peer mentor. Matches are made based on academic interests, co-curricular involvement, and shared goals for a mentoring relationship.

Criteria students must meet:

First-Year Connections: Any undergraduate student new to FAU within their first two semesters of enrollment not already affiliated with a mentoring program.
Transfer Connections: Any transfer student new to FAU not already affiliated with a mentoring program.

Elite Owl Program

Main point of contact: Marlynn Lopez (lopezm@fau.edu) 561-297-3735

Description: The Elite Owl program is a premiere ambassador leadership and service program designed to recognize exemplary student leaders at Florida Atlantic University. Through intensive leadership development, the Elite Owls facilitate workshops, explore local issues, and assist in the logistics of the Weppner Center for LEAD & Service-Learning (Lead & Serve)’s many initiatives.

Criteria students must meet:

Enrolled as a Junior or Senior
2.8 GPA or above
Personal Statement/ cover letter
Resume
Previous leadership experience (formal and/or informal)
Good judicial standing with the University
Interview for Selection

FAU’s Academy for Community Inclusion

Main point of contact: Gwendolyn Carey (gcarey@fau.edu) 561-799-8348

Description: The FAU Academy for Community Inclusion is a comprehensive transition program for adults with intellectual disabilities and continues to employ approximately 10 peer mentors per semester to support our students with intellectual disabilities. Peer mentors with FAU’s Academy for Community Inclusion are required to spend a minimum of 20 hours per month with assigned mentee and mentoring time may occur in a variety of settings (e.g. academic, vocational, social). Peer mentors are also required to attend training sessions.

Criteria students must meet: To be considered, applicants must be enrolled at FAU at least half-time, have a 3.0 cumulative gpa, have an interest in inclusion, and be able to pass a level 2 background check.

Business Mentor Program

Main point of contact: Michael Thomas (thomasm@fau.edu) 561-297-3676

Description: The Business Mentor Program brings together students and business professionals who share common professional interests. BMP’s primary focus is the fostering of one-on-one mentoring relationships that help students develop the soft skills, temperament, and proper business conduct needed for their fledgling careers to flourish with the least amount of stress and strain.

Criteria students must meet: BMP caters to juniors, seniors, and graduate students in good standing with GPA's >3.0. Exceptions are granted on a case-by-case basis. The Business Mentor Coach must conduct an interview with students interested in participating in the Business Mentor Program prior to acceptance.

FAU’s Academy for Community Inclusion

Main point of contact: Gwendolyn Carey (gcarey@fau.edu) 561-799-8348

iRISE2, Interest and Relationships Impacting Social Engagement and Employment

Main point of contact: Alexzandria May (amay8@fau.edu) 561-212-8094

Description: iRISE2, Interest and Relationships Impacting Social Engagement and Employment, is a mentoring program offered at FAU’s Center for Autism and Related Disabilities. Through various programs, the iRISE2 Mentoring Program serves youth and young adults ages 11-35 (with flexibility) with autism and related disabilities. These programs aim to help these youth and young adults reach their full potential for personal development and independence while enriching their social-cognitive capacity through interest-based mentoring. Our program is 100% virtual!

Program Options:

STEM & Mindfulness: Program runs for 6 consecutive Wednesdays from 5-6:15 pm EST via Zoom with audio and video capabilities. In this program, you will be paired one-on-one with a protégé (ages 11-21), and we meet weekly in a group setting with both program coordinators present to assist. Matches will work together in breakout rooms to build robot kits, learn about healthy recipes, and sticker by number, to name a few activities. Program activities change from program to program. Everything will be mailed to your home free of charge. No experience in STEM is necessary! The program takes place in Spring, Summer, and Fall.
Independent Living Skills Program: The program runs for 6 consecutive Thursdays from 5-6:15 pm EST via Zoom with audio and video capabilities. In this program, you will be paired one-on-one with a protégé (ages 16 and up) and we meet weekly in a group setting with both program coordinators present to assist. We will be working on Self-Care/Mental Wellness, exploring budgeting and financial literacy techniques, tips on managing the home, time management, and Online Safety/Social Media Etiquette with supplemental material provided by the program coordinators. *Topics subject to change based on participants feedback after each program. The program takes place in Spring, Summer, and Fall.

There is no experience required for any of our programs and training and support will be provided.

Criteria students must meet:

Be at least 16 years old to volunteer with our Site-Based/Group Mentoring Programs Only
Commit to attending at least 4 of the 6 program sessions
Submit a Completed Application
Schedule and Complete a Mentor Interview (about 1hr)
Provide 3 personal references
Successfully complete Mentor Background Screening Form and Background Screening scheduled a day/time/location of your convenience nationwide (Free of charge for iRISE2 Mentors)

Alexzandria May can provide volunteer hours verification, certificates, and letters of recommendation as needed for mentors.