University of Colorado Denver

The NTPD Mentor Program consists of two models: a peer-to-peer and an alumni matching process. The peer-to-peer model will match new students with current students that are further along in the program. The alumni model will match new and existing students with a NTPD graduate.

Mentors and mentees will be matched based on availability and their responses from the Pre-Match Questionnaire form that they have submitted to the DDP office. Once matched, the mentee will need to initiate contact with their mentor. The NTPD program is only responsible for setting up the match; any communication should be arranged by the mentor and/or mentee.

The NTPD program only recommends the mentee to meet with the mentor twice per semester. However, it is encouraged to meet as frequently as both parties feel comfortable.

Each match is scheduled for one full academic year. Each fall, you can contact the NTPD office to renew your mentor/mentee match, request a new mentor/mentee, or opt out of the program. Updates on renewing or starting the NTPD Mentor Program will be sent out prior to the start of the fall semester.

In addition, each mentor and mentee will fill out a post-match survey at the end of each academic year.

Mentors will be made available to any NTPD student (mentee) who requests to be matched with a mentor.

• Initiate communication with your mentor.
• Establish personal and mutual goals with your mentor to help make the most of your time in the mentoring program.
• Value the time your mentor is providing. Be prepared with questions to ask, topics to discuss, etc.
• Self-reflection is an important part of any education process.  Therefore, by keeping a written journal, we ask that you reflect on any advice and constructive feedback provided to you from your mentor after each conversation.  What did you learn from the conversation?  What can you do better?  How can you apply it to your experience in the NTPD Program?  At this time, we ask that you do this on your own; in the near future we will have an online e-portfolio program (e-Value™) available for you to document this and keep it with some of the program’s experiential coursework and your own professional development activities.

• Do not ask your mentor questions that are logistical to the program.
• Example:  “Who should I contact if my password is not working in eCollege?”
• Do not expect your mentor to be “on-call.” Be courteous of your mentor’s time!

There are two types of mentors: a peer-to-peer mentor, which is a current NTPD student, and an alumni mentor, which is a NTPD graduate.

Peer-to-Peer Mentor
To be a peer-to-peer mentor, you must have completed at all the pre-rotation requirements and at least one rotation. See our website for pre-rotation requirements.

Alumni Mentor
Any former student who graduated from the NTPD program.

• A mentor must have strong communication skills and a friendly and supportive demeanor.
• A mentor should stay in contact with the mentee and help provide constructive feedback.
• Facilitates the mentee’s growth by sharing resources and networks.
• Serves as a “sounding board” for program and educational issues, career development ideas or for pursuing career opportunities.
• Focuses on the mentee’s total development by encouraging mentees to become more efficient and productive.

• Do not assist or complete any academic work for the mentee.
• Do not make any decisions for the mentee. Always provide perspective, but remain objective!
• Do not be overly accessible to the mentee for minor problems or questions.

Yes, if you were a part of the NTPD Mentor program but decided to take a year off from the mentoring program, you will have the opportunity to rejoin the NTPD Mentor program in the upcoming fall semester. We cannot guarantee the same mentor/mentee match, however.

Yes, if you are the mentee. If you were matched and decide to take off a semester, your partnership with your mentor remains throughout the entire academic year. You are still responsible for meeting with your mentor twice in the semester, even if you are not registered for a class.

If for some reason you need to withdraw from the NTPD Mentor program early, you will need to inform your mentor/mentee and contact the NTPD office. The NTPD office strongly discourages both students and alumni mentors from discontinuing in the midst of an academic year.

Please contact the NTPD office at 303-724-3582 or via email: ntpd@ucdenver.edu.