Greensboro College Partners with Mentor Collective to Equip Students with High-impact Relationships at the Right Time
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 21, 2021
Greensboro College Office of Communications
Greensboro, North Carolina – July 21, 2021. Greensboro College announces a partnership with Mentor Collective to promote student mentorship and contribute to key outcomes that boost retention rates. The program, part of Greensboro College’s Your Path Forward retention strategy, uses Mentor Collective technology to pair new students with peer mentors who will guide them through the college experience. Peer mentorship is a vital component of student success; for first-generation college students, income-sensitive students, and students from underrepresented backgrounds, a peer mentor can provide valuable social support and stability.
During the program, first-year students are paired with their more experienced peers who help them navigate the challenges of adjusting to college life. Both mentors and mentees have access to a shared online site they can use to find resources and set development goals. Mentors and mentees meet regularly before and during the school year, forming a supportive relationship grounded in growth and shared experiences.
“The best part of the program is that Mentor Collective’s process produces authentic peer connection,” said D’andre Hardy, Director of Retention at Greensboro College. “Current students serving as mentors strengthen their leadership and communication skills by helping another student succeed.”
The partnership between Greensboro College and Mentor Collective was made possible in part by a $2 million Strengthening Institutions Grant from the Department of Education. When choosing a partner for their Retention Strategy, Hardy says, “Mentor Collective stood out to us because of the time they took to listen and understand the unique needs of our student population and our institutional goals for student success. Mentor Collective understands the realities we face as a small, private, liberal arts institution and the team continually helps us strategize to ensure the program remains scalable and positioned for success.”
Mentors and mentees for the 2021-2022 academic year have already begun to meet and form relationships. For more information about Greensboro College’s new mentorship program, visit www.greensboro.edu/academics/mentor-program.
About Greensboro College: Greensboro College provides a liberal arts education grounded in the traditions of the United Methodist Church and fosters the intellectual, social, and spiritual development of all students while supporting their individual needs.
Founded in 1838 and located in downtown Greensboro, the college enrolls about 1,000 students from 29 states and territories, the District of Columbia, and seven foreign countries in its undergraduate liberal-arts program and six master’s degree programs. In addition to rigorous academics and a well-supported Honors program, the school features a 17-sport NCAA Division III athletic program and dozens of service and recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.greensboro.edu.
About Mentor Collective: Mentor Collective—the leading provider of high-impact, large-scale mentorship programming in higher education—is a collective of institutions and thought leaders dedicated to closing the opportunity gap through mentorship. Founded in 2014, Mentor Collective has delivered 700+ unique mentorship programs, established 100+ institutional partnerships and formed 100,000 mentoring relationships through expert-led research, services and technology. As an impact-first investment of the Lumina Foundation, Mentor Collective partners with forward-thinking institutions that are committed to equity, inclusion, and relationship-centered education.
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Greensboro College Office of Communications
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