mentoring

The ASU Graduate College highly recommends Shades, a Multicultural Peer Mentoring Program. Shades is a peer mentor program originally designed for underrepresented students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Shades is now expanded to all majors as they prepare to be future educators, designers, artists, clinicians, practitioners, etc. ASU students of all backgrounds have joined Shades, creating a truly interdisciplinary assembly of scholars that promotes professional development and encourages networking within the ASU community. Interested students will be matched and mentored by their peers (graduate and undergraduates) from the same or similar programs of study.

Any graduate or undergraduate student who is interested in mentorship and wants to provide or receive support in multicultural and academic issues should consider Shades. ASU students who are interested in participating in the Shades Mentoring Program should submit the application found below to gradmentor@asu.edu. If you have any questions you can also send them to gradmentor@asu.edu.

• mentee/mentor application

how shades began

Shades is the design of ASU alumna Sydella Blatch, Ph.D. At the time she proposed and obtained funding for Shades, Dr. Blatch was a doctoral candidate in the ASU School of Life Sciences, a graduate of the Preparing Future Faculty Program and a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow.

Shades participants are mentors for each other, forming a network of support and information exchange. "One thing that we can do on a small scale is to increase the amount of information and exposure underrepresented people receive," says Blatch. "And there are some things that just go over better when coming from a peer."

how the shades program works

source of support and information

The program is not meant to replace formal academic advising, but rather to become a source of support and information on multicultural issues affecting the students in STEM programs. It is inclusive—bringing together students from all majors—with a focus on underrepresented student participation to emphasize the "multicultural" participation amongst the Shades Scholars, which is reflective of our ever-changing university, nation, and global society. As one of the largest institutions of higher learning in the country, ASU is committed to increasing and supporting the diversity of ethnic and cultural groups among graduate students. The Shades program will provide a network to assist students as they navigate the university system and achieve their educational goals.

The current statistical breakdown of the Shades program by ethnicity is as follows:

• Hispanic American (40.1%)
• African American (18.3%)
• White American (17.8%)
• Asian American (10.7%)
• Native American (6.1%)

opportunities

Shades mentors and mentees, whether matched or not, are invited to attend all Shades events.

Shades mentors are officially trained as a Shades Peer Mentor and receive a Shades mentor certificate before they are matched with a mentee. The Shades Peer Mentor on-line training will introduce mentors to the program and the expectations of a mentor.

All Shades participants are also included on our ASU Shades Blackboard Organization and are invited to join our Facebook page—which will keep you apprised of tools, resources and special events. Shades Mentor's and Mentee's contributions to Blackboard and Facebook discussions, panels and seminars are beneficial to everyone and are strongly encourage and welcomed.

time commitment

Shades mentors and mentees check in with each other at least twice a month. This can be done in-person, by e-mail, or phone. The length of time can vary from a half-hour to an hour. The duration of the Shades mentorship will be as long or as short as you wish.

program contacts

Jennifer Cason, Director of Graduate Initiatives, jennifer.cason@asu.edu
Debra Crusoe, Program Coordinator Sr. of Student Support Programs, debra.crusoe@asu.edu
Linda Manning, Coordinator of Graduate Support Initiatives, linda.manning@asu.edu

A guide to help those being mentored get the quality mentoring they need. Downloaded from the University of Washington’s Graduate School