Become a mentor to an Informatics or MSIM student!

The mission of the iMentorship Program is to support students in the iSchool’s Bachelor of Science in Informatics and Master of Science in Information Management (MSIM) programs as they pursue their professional dreams by enabling each student to work closely, one-on-one, with an information professional who can provide insight, guidance and support, and can help the student jumpstart a professional network.

The program runs each year from January through May.

iMentorship Overview

The mentor’s role is to help their student navigate choices surrounding their career direction and plans. The student is responsible for defining and articulating what they hope to achieve from mentorship, and mentors facilitate activities, connections and discussions, as best they can, that align with the student’s goals. There are no mandatory activities; each pair is able to create a unique program.

We begin signing up mentors in November each year and pairings begin in January. After a mentor is paired with a student the expectation is that they will connect approximately every other week between January and May. However, the meeting frequency and logistics are at the discretion of each pair. A virtual Mentor Appreciation Party in mid-May marks the end of the program.

Become a Mentor

We will begin signing up mentors in November for the 2021-2022 academic year. Check back soon for a link to the application.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the time commitment?

The time commitment is approximately 10 hours for 1:1 meetings between January and May. The expectation is that pairs will meet every other week for about an hour but this may vary based on the student’s goals. For example, some pairs may decide to meet monthly and use the other monthly meeting to introduce the student to someone in the mentor’s network. There may also be times, perhaps if the student has an important interview coming up, when a pair will opt to meet weekly for a period of time. Mentors may also need to spend time outside of the 1:1 meetings for activities such as reviewing a resume or business plan.

Who will I be mentoring?

Our program supports the Bachelor of Science in Informatics and Master of Science in Information Management (MSIM) programs, so you could be mentoring a student from either program. Students from these programs share an interest in using information and technology to improve organizations, with a strong focus on equity, inclusion and social responsibility.

Students who are in their final year of study are given priority, but the program is available to all Informatics and MSIM students on a space available basis. Mentors are able to specify if they would prefer to support a student from a specific program, or would like to work with someone close to graduation or on a longer timeline. These preferences will be taken into consideration when we are pairing students with mentors.

I’m a recent graduate. Can I be a mentor?

Absolutely! Recent grads can be terrific mentors for students who wish to be paired with someone who went through the recruiting process recently.

I’m not an iSchool (or UW) alum. Can I be a mentor?

Of course! We welcome participation from anyone in an information or technology field who wants to support a student. Our non-alums enrich our community!

I don’t live in the Seattle area. Can I be a mentor?

Yes! Remote connections can be as strong and impactful as local connections and we have seen great success with mentors supporting students from locations far and wide. Also, several of our students want to relocate, so those in different locations or who have relocated themselves can be extra-special mentors to these students.

Are the meetings remote or in person?

Mentor and student pairs are able to determine what works best for them based on their locations, schedules and personal preferences. For the 2021-22 academic year, we encourage pairs to meet remotely as much as possible.

For More Information

Contact Laura Schildkraut at laurasc@uw.edu if you have additional questions.