Making connections is critical for both personal and professional development. Connections can lead to job opportunities, internships, mentorships, enhance learning experiences, and provide a strong support network throughout your academic and professional careers.
Key Campus Connections
Instructors
Office hours are your time to meet with your instructors to ask questions, share feedback, learn about opportunities, make connections, and more. You can find your instructor’s office hours in the course syllabus/Canvas. Here are a few things to consider when using instructor office hours .
Advisors
Advisors are here to help you navigate a path to your educational goal. They can work with you to identify and develop your personal strengths, find appropriate resources, and help you advocate for yourself. Here are some examples of what you can talk about with an advisor:
- choosing your courses for next semester
- changes to your academic plan (for example, adding or dropping a major or minor)
- long-term/graduation planning
- planning for study abroad
- community engagement and student activities
- personal concerns, especially if they impact your academics
- academic difficulty, warning, or suspension
- leave of absence, or returning to the university after a leave
- forms and petitions regarding your academic status or other types of certification (including OPT or CPT forms for international students)
Learn more about Advising services including what to expect when meeting with an Advisor.
Mentors
Mentors can be chosen through a mentoring program, or you may meet and connect with them through your own networks. Mentors can:
- assist with major research and exploration
- share their knowledge and expertise
- support professional development
- provide feedback on projects, research, your career field, and more
- offer safe spaces to share your experiences and seek support
Finding Mentors
When looking for mentors, ask yourself “What is it that I want to do/learn?” and “Where can find people who have already done that/can teach me how to do that?” Where you look for mentors will depend on your specific needs. Try:
- exploring different affinity groups
- asking peers who have a mentor for suggestions
- talking to your advisor
- using alumni connections through the UMN Maroon and Gold Alumni Association
Next Steps
When you have identified a potential mentor, these are some points to consider:
- ask for an initial meeting to discuss your request
- provide some background on yourself and your overall goals to put the request into context
- be specific about what you are asking (e.g., feedback on a scholarship application draft, advice for a particular field of study, interest in their area of research)
- if the mentoring relationship is ongoing, determine how to move forward (e.g., how often you will meet and by what means, how you will communicate, goals and timeline)
- remember, just like your relationship with your advisor, it’s important to communicate regularly about how things are going, what is working, and what might need adjusting