The University of St. Thomas

LINKAGES Resources

 

LINKAGES Mentor Program                                                                                         
 

The Linkages Mentoring Program is an initiative of the Division of Student Affairs and is hosted by Multicultural Student Services (MSS) at the University of St. Thomas.  The program goals are consistent with the mission of MSS, which is concerned with providing a comprehensive system of advocacy and support for United States’ students of color and to improve retention and the quality of their collegiate experience. Linkages will be piloted during the 2007-2008 academic year to broaden efforts to increase the retention of underrepresented students and support University strategic priorities of Access and Excellence. 

 

The Linkages Team consists of 30 undergraduate student leaders who will serve as mentors.  This program will be led by a team of staff consisting of a Program Manager employee and two undergraduate Linkages Interns. 

 

MEET OUR Mentors:

 

Leah Agbor Princess Gaye Rachel Myers
Tyrone Barze Jamal GipsonDerek Porter
Audrea Bellard David GriggsKevin Rainey
Joslyn BolsonShara Guidry Ayanthi Ratnayake
Kenny Cutler Andrea JauliKim Riley
Selina DehnWilliam Johnson Lonnie Robinson
Aquanette Early        Yewah Kargobai     Angela Wachira
Bobby Edwards Sibi Lawson Shalya Walker
Sarah Elifson Jessica Lee Amy Westmoreland
Nafisa Elmi Danielle Matthias Nayila Yaro

 

MEET OUR Linkages Interns:

 

 
Brad Pulles     Yolonda Rogers

 

 

Linkages Program Design is intended to create intentional connections, or linkages between students and the larger university community. Linkages is a formal one-to-one learning centered, peer mentoring program.  Mentor pairs will attend six core education sessions and two community engagement/elective sessions over the course of two semesters.  Students are matched based on common interests such as academic major.

 

Linkages with faculty is another important component of the program. Linkages hopes to encourage, support, and sustain unique and meaningful relationships between students of color, faculty and staff through an existing Mentor Network program.

 

Linkages aims to:

  • Increase the retention of underrepresented students
  • Enhance students’ experiences at the University of St. Thomas.
  • Help create meaningful relationships with students, faculty and staff.
  • Increase student access to important information, resources, and services.
  • Provide  a meaningful experience for volunteer mentors and undergraduate interns

 
LINKAGES Goals and Objectives                                                                              

 

The goal of this program is to support the retention of students of color.  Students participating in Linkages will have:

  • Increased confidence inside and outside of the classroom.
  • Increased knowledge about the services available at UST.
  • Opportunities to get to know individuals supportive of their perspectives.
  • A mentor to whom they can ask the “dumb” and tough questions.
  • A common shared experience with other first year students in the program.
  • Increased knowledge about how to negotiate the system of the University of St. Thomas.
  • Increased engagement within the university community.

 

This program is designed to provide benefits not only to the mentees, but also to the mentors.  Mentors will:

  • Receive satisfaction from directly contributing to the retention of their peers. 
  • Learn about student culture at UST. 
  • Learn skills for developing cross-cultural relationships. 
  • Attend trainings that will support learning and development of important skills such as self and cultural awareness, problem solving, and communication skills.


LINKAGES Program Calendar 2007-2008                                                                

 

The program has six required Core Educational Sessions that will focus on the Hidden Curriculum.  Students will have the opportunity to hear from faculty and students on how to:

 

·        Present themselves as a scholar.

·        Build good relationships with professors and peers.

·        Engage in classroom discussions and appropriately respond to real or perceived hostile comments/gestures.

·        Understand the social culture of UST.

 

The program design includes Community Engagement elective components of which students can select at least two.  Note that the list is not exhaustive.

 

 

·        Wellness Programming Events

·        MSS Fun Night

·        Cultural events

·        University Lectures

·        Fall Welcome Activities

·        Mentor Network programs

·        BESA/Hana/GMSA and other student club/organization events

·        MSS Fall Retreat

·        Family Weekend

·        UST theatre or concert events

·        Tommie Athletic Events

·        Homecoming