Connect to a Michigan Tech Mentor
The transition to college can be tough. Where do you belong? How do you find friends and activities that feel right for you on campus and in the community?
Husky Connect is here to help incoming students succeed. Feel at home. Engage, interact, and get the most out of the university experience.
What is Husky Connect?
Husky Connect: Peer to Peer Mentoring is a program founded through the Center for Diversity and Inclusion. The mission of Husky Connect is to primarily support first-year, underrepresented minority (URM) students (i.e. domestic ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA+ students, and women) in their transition to Michigan Technological University and surrounding community by providing direct support, resources, and enrollment into a one credit course that will increase students’ success, sense of belonging, and engagement with the university.
Husky Connect Goals
- Assist students in their effort to build codependent relationships between other students, the university, and the community.
- Use positive psychology as a means to enhance students’ experiences.
- Help students anticipate potential setbacks, organize possible solutions, and feel a sense of belonging.
- Connect students to campus resources, events, services, and programs.
- Support University retention efforts for underrepresented minority students.
What do Connect Mentees do?
As a Connect Mentee you will meet regularly with your Connect Mentor to gain a first-hand introduction to Michigan Tech. If you have questions, need help finding a service, want to know the inside scoop, need some advice, you’ll ask your Mentor. Mentees should work with their Mentor to set goals, get involved, and stay connected to the university and the student body. As a mentee, you have to put in work to engage in your mentor, the program, and Michigan Tech as a whole. You will also have the ability to attend fun events planned by Husky Connect Mentors!
Space is limited and the program is FREE. If you want to talk to a student who shares a similar identity: as a student of color, LGBTQIA+, or women, for example, we'll pair you with someone who can answer questions, share experiences, and show you the way to navigate your first year here at Tech.
Your Connect Mentor works with you to make sure you are welcomed and valued as an important member of our community.
What is Husky Connect Success 101?
The Husky Connect Success 101 course is specifically designed for mentees to aid them in their transition from high school to college. The course will introduce multiple academic strategies and resources, help students learn strategies to increase their academic, personal and professional success.
Subjects that focus on successful transition from dependent learning to independent learning, time prioritization, effectively identifying academic and co-curricular resources in addition to major and career planning, academic integrity, campus resources, leadership, time management, and diversity will be discussed.
In addition, students in this course will meet career professionals and faculty researchers to explore the possibility of participating in career focused internships and or undergraduate research experiences during their first year. Full participation and engagement are essential for successful completion.
Course Objectives:
- Develop effective independent learning, academic planning, time management and stress management skills.
- Map an academic plan that aligns with career and educational goals.
- Engage in career development activities to identify a career pathway.
- Learn and understand the various learning and well-being support resources on and off campus.
- Develop strategies for well balanced co-curricular engagement.
- Identify and practice effective communication skills that support academic and co-curricular success.
- Develop social and problem-solving skills. Emphasis will be placed on developing effective learning skills, building a community of support and developing successful strategies to navigate barrier to sense of belonging
Mentee applications for the Fall 2023 are now OPEN
Interested in becoming a Mentor?
We're always looking for Huskies willing to give new students the value of their experiences. Each Connect Mentor is assigned one or two first-year students to begin interacting with in the summer before fall semester starts. Husky Connect Mentors receive compensation for the time they spend with their mentees.
Work with your students through the academic year to help them set goals and get involved in campus and community happenings.
Connect Mentors meet regularly with their students to talk about anything that comes up, from the scoop on LGBTQIA+ friendly doctors or hairdressers to campus groups they might want to join.
Do I Have Time for Husky Connect?
Mentors and students get together two to four times per month during the academic year and four times over the summer.
In the summer, bridge the distance by meeting up virtually, via any electronic platform that works for you.
The benefits of talking to someone who's been there done that and can offer friendly guidance? Huge. For your grades, your social life, your stress level—and your self-esteem.
During the academic year, you meet in person in a location that honors comfort levels, like the Hamar House living room, the library café, or the MUB. There are plenty of public spaces around campus where you can settle in for a chat.
Mentor Applications are CLOSED