OHIO’s Mentoring and Coaching Connections is a key initiative within the President’s Dynamic Strategy’s Engage Pillar, creating an inclusive mentoring and coaching framework to facilitate student-alumni engagement.
The Mentoring and Coaching Connections vision includes multiple pathways for students to engage in varied student and alumni mentoring opportunities and life and leadership mentoring and coaching, building on the existing successes, student demand, and exploration.
OHIO’s Dynamic Strategy Engage Pillar identified the desire to facilitate “the opportunity to build on (OHIO’s) strengths to capture broader distinction as a university where students will connect beyond the boundaries of campus with alumni and partners who prepare them for ultimate success.”
Specifically, the Engage Pillar Strategy #3 includes the first two actions:
To develop a framework for mentoring and coaching success throughout a student’s experience at OHIO, we extensively engaged students and initiated sessions with leaders across campus to learn about current involvement and desires for alumni mentoring, life and leadership coaching, and alumni student connections. We also examined the literature and research on best practices and standards and investigated programs at other universities and some industries. Through our research, our listening, and our survey of our partners, we have discovered approaches best suited to today’s students and developed ideas for programs that can enrich and engage student mentoring, coaching and alumni engagement experiences. We also have learned about many current programs that are already enriching and enhancing student trajectories and have brainstormed with individuals throughout OHIO about how we can deepen the engagement between students and alumni through mentoring and coaching—from freshman year through graduate and professional school.
Among the big ideas that emerged from our discovery activities:
Dr. Dwan Robinson, Associate Professor of Educational Administration, Patton College of Education
Dr. Amy Taylor-Bianco, Professor of Management, College of Business
Are you ready to be a part of something bigger? OHIO's Mentoring and Coaching Connections (MCC) is your gateway to engagement that will lead to something extraordinary.
For students, it's your chance to chart your course for your life while tapping into a network of successful Bobcats who've turned their OHIO experience into thriving careers and rich, purposeful lives.
For alumni, you can decide how to share your journey - whether through alumni student interactions, individual guidance, group mentoring circles, group coaching, or classroom involvement - offering professional insights and real-world wisdom that shapes success in every arena.
For faculty and staff who endeavor to lead programs or who are looking to incorporate coaching and mentoring into their courses, assignments, classrooms and clubs, OHIO’s MCC Handbook and modules have you covered. At OHIO, we don't just build careers and develop life and leadership pathways - we build each other up the OHIO way.
Our mentorship program is built on a foundation of ethical excellence and authentic relationships. Every connection we make, every conversation we have, is guided by our core values and professional standards.
So, let’s put the core attributes into action. That's where our appreciatively designed life and leadership framework comes in. Think of it as your roadmap for turning these OHIO attributes into pathways for you to make a real-world impact. This isn't just another program -- it's a journey that will adapt and grow with you.
Here's how your journey will unfold -- and remember, this isn't a linear path. You will be able to choose to engage through multiple pathways and access varied entry-points into mentoring and coaching experiences.
These experiences might include:
In addition, it’s possible that you will cycle through various iterations and phases of alumni student mentoring and coaching experiences multiple times as you grow, and as your goals evolve
Every great journey starts with a single step – but it helps to envision where you're heading! Let's break down how to create a mentoring experience that's uniquely yours.
Before diving in, take a moment to think about where you want to go. What's your ideal outcome? Maybe it's:
Understanding the OHIO MCC Attributes
Think of the OHIO attributes as your superpowers. Here's how to activate them throughout your journey.
Time to put it all together! Your plan should:
Now that you've got your roadmap, let's talk about how to really make this journey count. Whether you're a student finding your way or a mentor ready to make an impact, here's your insider's guide to making the most of every connection.
College is wild enough, and figuring out what comes next can feel like trying to beat a game without the tutorial. That's where OHIO MCC comes in. Your mentor isn't just another name on LinkedIn – they're more like your ally with the latest intel on life after OHIO.
Your role is pivotal – not just in sharing wisdom but in truly listening and guiding your mentees. Today's students are navigating a world filled with many distractions and rapid change. What they often need most is someone who can listen deeply and help them uncover their own solutions.
Respect diverse perspectives and experiences.
Acknowledge that learning is mutual and ongoing.
Remember: This mentoring relationship is designed to ignite potential and create lasting impact in the OHIO tradition of excellence. Together, we build not just careers, but futures – the OHIO way.