The Office of LGBTQ Student Life mentorship program connects lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning students with out LGBTQ faculty, staff and graduate/professional mentors. The goals of this program are:
- To foster mentoring relationships between students and faculty/staff/graduate/professional students that offer support, guidance and resources to LGBTQ-identified students at the University of Chicago.
- To provide support for students who are in the process of coming out, or who feel they are currently unable to come out.
- To expose younger students to the diverse lives of LGBTQ members of the University of Chicago community who are further along in their lives and / or career.
- To provide helpful resources to students as they explore issues related to identity.
- To help connect LGBTQ students to the larger LGBTQ community, both at the University of Chicago and the Chicagoland area.
- To provide LGBTQ faculty, staff and graduate/professional students an opportunity to help students develop outside of the classroom and other formal University of Chicago venues.
Mentees will be expected to:
- Commit to the mentoring relationship and program for at least one academic year.
- Meet with the mentor in person at least once per month.
- Be punctual for scheduled meetings with the mentor.
- Provide feedback to the Office of LGBTQ Student Life on the mentoring program.
- Contact the Office of LGBTQ Student Life if any concerns develop.
- Have fun!
Mentors will be expected to:
- Be out.
- Meet with your mentee in person at least once per month.
- Commit to the mentoring relationship and program for at least one year.
- Respect the degree of outness desired by your mentee.
- Respect confidentiality.
- Serve as a resource to your mentee.
- Contact the Office of LGBTQ Student life if you have any concerns.
- Attend mentor training.
- Provide feedback to the Office of LGBTQ Student Life if any concerns develop.
- Have fun!
Thank you for your interest in participating in the mentoring program!
APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2019-2020 ACADEMIC YEAR HAVE CLOSED.
PLEASE CHECK BACK IN MAY 2020.
Once you have been paired with your mentor, you will be expected to:
- Commit to the mentoring relationship and program for at least one year.
- Meet with the mentor in person at least once per month.
- Be punctual for scheduled meetings with the mentor.
- Contact the Office of LGBTQ Student Life if any concerns develop.
- Provide feedback to the Office of LGBTQ Student Life on the mentoring program.
- Have fun!
If you have questions, please contact us at lgbtq@uchicago.edu.
Who are the mentees?
Our mentees are current undergraduate and graduate students who need the support of an LGBTQ adult mentor at The University of Chicago.
Who are the Mentors?
Our mentors are openly LGBTQ faculty, staff, or enrolled graduate students of The University of Chicago.
What would mentors and mentees typically do together?
Mentors and mentees discuss issues of interest to the mentee. Often discussions center on self-acceptance, coming out to friends or family, same-gender dating questions, safer sex practices, religious conflicts, multiple identities (e.g. being LGBTQ and a person of color). They can also focus on academic or professional issues related to an LGBTQ identity. Mentors and mentees explore positive resources together (e.g., LGBT Community Centers, Office of LGTBQ Student Life).
Mentors and mentees may attend LGBTQ activities or community events together such as discussion groups, pride parades or festivals, LGBTQ-comedy acts or related theater performances.
Where do mentors and mentees meet?
Often mentors and mentees meet for coffee or lunch either on or off campus, in public locations. The most important factor is that the mentee and mentor feel safe and at ease in the chosen location.
Are meetings between mentors and mentees confidential?
Mentors take very seriously the privacy of their mentees. However, due to the fact that the meetings take place in public, it is possible that friends or others the mentee knows may see the mentor and mentee together. Trust that the mentor will never disclose the nature of the mentor/mentee relationship without the mentee’s permission. The only time a mentor is to break confidentially is if they believe that a mentee is at risk of harming themselves or others. The mentee and mentor also can voice any concerns to the Office staff.
How often do mentors and mentees meet?
Mentors and mentees are asked to meet a minimum of once a month. Over time, they may meet less frequently, depending upon the mentee’s need. Meetings are flexible in order to accommodate both mentors’ and mentees’ schedules.
How are mentors and mentees paired?
After a mentee turns in their application, the Office of LGBTQ Student Life will pair mentors and mentees based on:
- Shared characteristics such as their sexual orientation and gender identity
- Academic and personal interests
- When possible, we try to accommodate any specific requests a mentee might have if available
What if I don’t like my mentor?
Though it is extremely rare, sometimes mentees are assigned to new mentors if the match is not working out. LGBTQ Student Life facilitates this process and change. We want to ensure the mentee gets the support they need in a comfortable and safe environment.
Created by University of California - Irvine's LGBT Mentoring Program and adapted for use by the University of Chicago's LGBTQ Student Life's LGBTQ Mentoring Program, 2014.
Thank you for your interest as serving as a mentor!
APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2019-2020 ACADEMIC YEAR HAVE CLOSED.
PLEASE CHECK BACK IN MAY 2020.
As a mentor, you will have the opportunity to provide support and guidance to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning students based on your own experiences. You will be expected to:
- Be out.
- Meet with your mentee in person at least once per month.
- Commit to the mentoring relationship and program for at least one year.
- Respect the degree of outness desired by your mentee.
- Respect confidentiality.
- Serve as a resource to your mentee.
- Contact the Office of LGBTQ Student life if you have any concerns.
- Attend mentor training.
- Provide feedback to the Office of LGBTQ Student Life if any concerns develop.
- Have fun!
Please note: We have a significantly larger pool of mentors than mentees. This allows us to better match students and mentors. We cannot guarantee that each mentor applicant will be matched to a student. If we feel you would be a good match, we will contact you. All applicants will, however, be invited and encouraged to participate in any mentoring program events.
Who are the Mentors?
LGBTQ faculty, staff, or enrolled graduate students who volunteer their time to help others. Mentors must be affiliated with The University of Chicago.
Why should I become a mentor?
As a mentor you will positively impact an LGBTQ student’s life. With your support and care, a mentee may learn to develop a positive LGBTQ identity. With your help, a mentee may be spared years of needless distress and be able to move into a more full and authentic life. With your wisdom, a mentee may learn new skills to negotiate the challenges life can present to LGBTQ individuals.
What qualities do mentors have?
LGBTQ Mentors are mature, caring, responsible, and altruistic. They are individuals who want to serve as role models to others. Because they have negotiated their own coming out process, mentors know firsthand the challenges inherent in self-acceptance, coming out, and finding positive community resources. It is this personal understanding that makes mentors particularly well suited to help others.
What is the time requirement?
Mentors commit to a minimum of one meeting per month. LGBTQ Student Life may require additional information sessions to help mentors prepare for their role as mentors. Also, the Office of LGBTQ Student Life will encourage mentor/mentee pairs to attend any Office or Mentoring Program special events.
How specifically do mentors serve their mentees?
Mentors function as:
- Helpers – Mentors listen with compassion and understanding; they answer questions and provide information.
- Tour guides – Mentors help mentees explore the LGBTQ community together. They visit LGBT establishments such as coffee shops, LGBTQ Centers; they attend LGBTQ events such as comedy nights, educational talks, LGBTQ media awards. They go to Pride events or festivals, etc.
- Buddies – Mentors accompany mentees to discussion groups, meetings or LGBTQ activities, so that mentees don’t have to go alone.
Mentors provide guidance on the following issues:
- Confusion about sexual orientation or gender identity
- Acceptance of self as gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, transgender, or genderqueer
- Coming out to friends and family
- Integration of multiple identities (e.g., being LGBTQ and a person of color)
- Professional and academic concerns as related to being LGBTQ
- Dating:
- How to meet potential dates
- Finding eligible partners
- How to ask someone for a date
- Break-ups
- Finding positive campus and community resources:
- Written materials (i.e. books, magazines, directories, etc.)
- On-line resources
- Activities (i.e. meetings, potlucks, sports, rap groups, dinners, dances, plays, movies, etc.)
- Places (i.e. community centers, coffee shops, dance clubs, bookstores, libraries, etc.)
Created by University of California - Irvine's LGBT Mentoring Program and adapted for use by the University of Chicago's LGBTQ Student Life's LGBTQ Mentoring Program, 2014.