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MILLIGAN COLLEGE, TN (January 29, 2004) —National Mentoring Month is wrapping up this week, but mentoring at Milligan College continues year-round. The college’s mentoring program matches new students with faculty and staff members who provide academic, social and spiritual guidance during the student’s first year of college.
Milligan has for years assigned all students an academic advisor who guides the student through the academic process each year, but in 2000 the college developed a more detailed mentoring program to provide first year students additional support as part of its Student Success program.
“We are currently assessing the results from last semester to determine the mentoring program’s overall success this academic year. We believe the mentoring program is a primary reason that Milligan’s first year retention rate is above 80 percent,” said Leslie Glover, who as director of student success, oversees the mentoring program at Milligan.
Milligan’s mentors are faculty or staff who agree to work with a group of 12 to 15 students each year, offering guidance and forming supportive relationships outside the classroom. Mentors meet with these students individually several times each semester, as well as sponsor social events and group meetings.
“This is one of the most beneficial programs at Milligan College for students because it allows us to receive advice from an educated peer and Christian mentor who has experience and the passion for the same field of work that we do,” said Amy Goodlet, a freshman communications major.
John Paul Abner, mentor and professor of psychology at Milligan College, not only interacted with students by counseling and giving guidance on life and career choices, he has also invited them on hayrides and to his home for home-cooked meals.
“The mentorship program at Milligan models the servant leadership mission of the college, honoring God by educating men and women to be servant-leaders,” said Abner. “There are several benefits for the students as well as the mentors. Faculty and staff are able to further build relationships with students and become deeply involved in the lives and choices of a group of students.”
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Tricia Hill, a freshman biology major from Trinity, N.C., said the benefits of the mentoring program have helped give her direction in determining her “calling in life.”
“Through the advice and approval of a trained faculty member, mentoring helped me discover where I am going and what my life is intended for,” said Hill.
“A program cannot be successful without institutional support. I applaud the mentors for going above and beyond the requirements for the mentoring program,” said Glover.