The Merit Mentoring & Professional Network is entering its second year as a new initiative from Fall 2022, sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. This includes an LAS 199 course experience which is designed to provide professional development, peer mentoring, as well as research and other pre-professional experiences to students in disciplines served by the Merit Program (chemical sciences, biological sciences, and mathematics). We are looking for graduate students and upper-level undergraduate students in these areas who may be interested in serving as mentors to freshman and sophomore students this fall. This involves a small weekly time commitment starting in the second eight weeks of the fall semester and continuing on to the spring based on your interest. Mentors will be paid. 

Requirements & Responsibilities: 

• Requirements: junior or senior undergraduate student or graduate student in chemical sciences, biological sciences, or mathematics at the start of the Fall 2023 semester
• Time commitment: Approximately 2 hours weekly during the second eight weeks of the fall semester (class starts October 16)
• Scheduling: Available Mondays from 3-5 pm during the second eight weeks of the semester to attend the class and for the weekly mentor check-in meeting. This has the potential to continue into the spring semester. 
• What you’ll do: Work to establish a community of Merit scholars by leading or co-leading discussion groups of 4-6 first and second year undergraduate students regarding adjusting to college, career advice, research, and academics. We will provide training and prompts to get you started and you will also add your own experiences.
• Payment: $300/semester stipend (estimated at $18/hour) 

Fill out this online form if you are interested in being a Merit MPN Mentor in Fall 2023.

If you are selected to be a mentor, we will get back to you with more information before the start of the course.

Other notes: 

The Merit Program is targeted towards high achieving students who are historically underrepresented in the sciences (ethnic minority students, rural students), who may be unfamiliar with college (first generation college students), or who are undecided in a major (undeclared students). If you fall into one of these groups, we would especially encourage you to apply, but if you do not, please do not let that discourage you from expressing your interest in mentoring. We recognize the valuable contributions and perspectives of students of all backgrounds and interests, and we look forward to having a diverse group of mentors.