Everyone on campus knows someone who is or was involved in e-Mentoring.
An e-Mentor reached out to you when you arrived on this campus, whether or not you responded to that email, joined the groupchat and engaged during orientation, Welcome Weekend and your first semester, was up to you. Regardless of whether or not you wanted or needed an e-Mentor, you can and should apply to be an e-Mentor. Here’s why.
Stacy Mullen, Director of Student Development and e-Mentor boss explains the program best.
“The program serves as a valuable resource for incoming students, pairing them with an upperclassman mentor who (most often) shares the same major,” said Mullen. “The support and guidance provided by the e-Mentors begins during summer orientation and extends throughout the fall semester. The e-Mentor Program not only helps our incoming students establish their first friendships on campus but also offers a chance for the e-Mentors to share their knowledge of campus life, provide guidance and support and help others find their place here at Wilkes.”
But what do e-Mentors actually do? They attend a few training sessions, work Orientation and Welcome Weekend and engage with their mentees throughout their first semester at Wilkes. They do this in a variety of ways, including sending emails or texts to their mentee groups, inviting them to sporting and campus events and by working one of four e-Mentor supported events: Family Day, Hall Brawl, Registration Bingo or Bowling Night.
Emma Freels, who has been a mentor for two years and most recently served as the Social Media Coordinator for the program, is proud to have engaged with her e-Mentor during her first-year and applied after the program was recommended to her.
“I really enjoyed attending the events that my e-Mentor, Kait Falco, held for us as well,” said Freels. “I met one of my best friends by being part of that group, and after struggling a bit my first-year, I realized that I wanted to be able to give other students the same welcoming community that was there to support me.”
In addition to the traditional e-Mentor duties, Freels took on even more responsibility as the Social Media Coordinator.
“I applied for this additional leadership position because I love designing and planning, and it allowed me to keep my role as an e-Mentor which was really important to me,” said Freels. “I created and uploaded content for the organization’s social media accounts and promoted events through flyers and posters.”
This is not the only coordinator position available. There is also the e-Mentor coordinator, who works directly with the mentors, creates the training sessions and keeps tabs on the e-Mentor’s work during the semester, and the orientation coordinator, who plans New Student Orientation and Welcome Weekend. This year, a new coordinator position is being introduced: the Civic Engagement coordinator.
“As part of the revitalization of our Office of Civic Engagement, incoming students will have the opportunity to kick off their Wilkes experience with a day of service, a tradition that has been embraced by many classes in the past (pre-COVID),” said Mullen. “E-mentors will play a significant role in organizing and leading this day of service, and there are also discussions about incorporating service as a regular part of the programming throughout the fall semester.”
Mullen shared that she would have appreciated an experience like this during her undergraduate experience.
“As a transfer student, my orientation experience wasn’t very comprehensive, and I didn’t have the privilege of being assigned a student mentor,” said Mullen. “Reflecting on it now, I believe that a program like this would have made a huge difference in ensuring that I had the necessary tools and resources to navigate a new campus and my academics with support and confidence.”
But why should students apply to be an e-Mentor?
As valuable as it is for first-year and transfer students, mentors gain just as much and have even more fun. Mullen shared that, while witnessing first-year students grow is fulfilling, she also loves to see the mentors grow and step out of their comfort zone.
“I really wish people knew just how fun the e-Mentor program is,” said Freels. “Truly, it is such a welcoming group of people that no matter how different you might be you will always feel included. It’s also a great way to get involved on campus. I can’t express how much it makes my day when a mentee or mentor waves hello,” said Freels.”
Speaking not as the author of this article, but as the girl who entered college friendless, confused and overwhelmed, e-Mentoring has been crucial to the formation of who I am today. Though I did not utilize my e-Mentor, I knew I wanted to help students who needed the assistance.
Students do not have to be the bubbly, outgoing person that may come to mind when they hear “orientation guide”. It is one thing to be a student and have an e-Mentor available to help, but it is entirely different to be a mentor. I have met and grown closer to so many wonderful people through this program.
If students want to make new friends, use knowledge to help incoming students, get more involved or just have something to do over the summer, e-Mentoring is for them. Students can apply to be an e-Mentor on the Wilkes University website and navigating to the mentoring page. Students can also follow the e-Mentors on Instagram and TikTok, @wilkesumentors.
Love truly is the best word to describe how those involved feel about the program. Just ask your e-Mentor.