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With an alumni base of nearly 10,000 members, the School of Journalism & Mass Communication is in a unique position to provide professional assistance to students. One of the ways the school helps students connect with alumni is through a mentoring program sponsored by the SJMC Alumni Society. For the last two decades, the SJMC alumni board has made hundreds of mentoring matches, connecting SJMC juniors and seniors with professionals willing to share their experiences.
Students first attend a mandatory information meeting and fill out an online application. After reviewing students’ interests and expectations, members of the Alumni Society Board start making matches.
For each student, we try to find a professional who has a job in a field that is of interest to the student. The mentorship isn’t an internship, nor is it intended to lead to a job at the mentor’s workplace. It is simply a chance to talk candidly, to learn about life after college and to begin that transition from college life to the “real world.” When the matchmaking process is complete, mentors and students attend a kick-off event. After that, it’s up to the pairing to plan activities. Some pairs meet twice a month, others meet less frequently. In most cases, the student will tour the mentor’s workplace. Other popular mentorship activities include resume writing, job search planning, portfolio/tape critiquing and networking. It is not unusual for some relationships to endure as students earn their degrees, seek employment and begin their careers.
The program is open to junior and senior SJMC majors only.
Click here for a Mentor Program timeline and information about what to expect from the program.
Our mentoring program is a great way to connect with someone in the Twin Cities media community who is doing a job you'd like to pursue. It's your chance to ask questions, network and really see what a day-in-the-life is like. Once you fill out the application, you are paired with a Twin Cities media professional.
The 2012-2013 Alumni Mentor Program is now closed.
Applications for the 2013-2014 Alumni Mentor Program will be available in early fall 2013.
Sarah and Chad
Johnny and Cole
