eVOLve Mentor Program
Purpose: The eVOLve Mentor Program assists students transitioning to college and their development of transferable skills necessary to be successful in school, sport and in life.
Contact: tcmentors@utk.edu
Position Overview
Role of a Mentor
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The mentor's role is to help student-athletes develop the self-responsibility, self-directedness, and skills necessary to achieve their goals both in the classroom and in life.
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Mentors facilitate 1-on-1 sessions with student-athletes, assisting with the development of transferable skills and the transition to college.
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Mentors individualize their coaching by collaborating with student-athletes to determine their strengths and areas of improvement.
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The curriculum menu serves as a guide for mentors and student-athletes to select lesson plans designed to activate prior knowledge, introduce a new skill, practice, and create an action plan for implementation in the future.
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Mentors report on course and developmental progress through end-of-sessions documentation.
Characteristics of Effective Mentors
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Effective communicators
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Strong academic role models
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Passionate about working with students
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Positive leaders
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Solution-oriented
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Professional and reliable
Requirements
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Bachelor's Degree
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GPA: 3.15
Compensation/Schedule
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Paid position ($14/hour)
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Hours based on the availability of the applicant
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All appointments take place in-person at the Thornton Center
Transferable Skill Development
Executive Functions
Time management, organization, working memory, task initiation, and metacognition.
Technology
Artificial intelligence (AI), assistive technology, Zoom, Canvas, Microsoft and Google Platforms.
Campus Resources
Various academic and personal development resources available on campus for students.
Goal Setting
SMART goals, short-term/long-term goals, success planner, and one word.
Communication
Email etiquette, professional language, office hours, classroom etiquette, and Canvas.
Reading/Writing
SQ3R reading method, in-text citations, citation overview, academic search engines.
Note-Taking
Outlining, mind-maps, and Cornell notes.
Learning/Study Strategies
Bloom's Taxonomy, aids to remembering, learning styles, flashcards, and types of assessments.
Career Development
Student-athlete development overview, resume, and career exploration.
Session Breakdown
1st Quarter (5 min)
Rapport Building
Check in with the student about how they're doing and ask probing questions.
2nd Quarter (10-20 min)
Build Weekly Plan of Objectives
Check Canvas to see their upcoming assignments; have them check their email, begin building an academic plan for the week.
3rd Quarter (15 min)
Skill Development
Collaborative process between the mentor and student to implement lesson plans related to desired areas of growth.
4th Quarter (5 min)
Action Plan/Reflection
What are the takeaways from the appointment?
What can the student implement/practice going forward?