Faculty Mentor Name
Marylou Bagus-Hansen
Abstract
Improve Your Tomorrow (IYT) is a non-profit mentorship program that supports young men of color by providing academic guidance, college and career preparation, and social emotional support across both middle and high school settings. While middle school programming often focuses on relationship building and early academic engagement, high school mentoring places a great emphasis on college readiness and long-term goal setting. Through consistent mentorship and relationship building, the program aims to increase student engagement, confidence, and long-term academic success. By creating spaces where students feel supported both academically and personally, IYT plays a critical role in shaping positive educational and developmental outcomes. However, the quality and consistency of mentorship can vary depending on individual mentor experience, preparation, and access to structured guidance. This project focuses on improving mentorship quality within IYT by developing a structured mentor handbook designed specifically within IYT mentors, particularly College Corps Fellows. To better understand mentorship experiences and identify areas for improvement, survey data was collected from current and former mentors, students, and parents. Responses revealed common challenges related to student engagement, communication, and relationhsip building, as well as a need for clearer expectations and practical mentoring strategies. The handbook is designed to be applicable across both middle and high school settings, while particular emphasis on strategies that support younger students in buildings and trust.In response, the mentor handwork was developed to provide accessible, easy to follow guidance that supports mentors in their daily interactions with students. The handbook includes strategies for building trust, improving communication, managing group behavior, and creating engaging mentoring sessions. It also incorporates tolls such as conversation starts, session planning strategies, and a student engagement reward system to promote consistency and participation. The handbook is designed to serve as a long-term resource that can be continuously adapted and used by future College Corps cohorts of mentors to maintain consistency and continued success across the program. By standardizing mentoring practices and incorporating feedback from multiple perspectives, this project aims to strengthen mentor effectiveness, improve student outcomes, and enhance the overall impact of the IYT program.
Location
DeRosa University Center, University of the Pacific
Start Date
24-4-2026 3:00 PM
End Date
24-4-2026 5:00 PM
Strengthening Mentorship Through Structure: Developing an IYT Mentor Handbook
DeRosa University Center, University of the Pacific
Improve Your Tomorrow (IYT) is a non-profit mentorship program that supports young men of color by providing academic guidance, college and career preparation, and social emotional support across both middle and high school settings. While middle school programming often focuses on relationship building and early academic engagement, high school mentoring places a great emphasis on college readiness and long-term goal setting. Through consistent mentorship and relationship building, the program aims to increase student engagement, confidence, and long-term academic success. By creating spaces where students feel supported both academically and personally, IYT plays a critical role in shaping positive educational and developmental outcomes. However, the quality and consistency of mentorship can vary depending on individual mentor experience, preparation, and access to structured guidance. This project focuses on improving mentorship quality within IYT by developing a structured mentor handbook designed specifically within IYT mentors, particularly College Corps Fellows. To better understand mentorship experiences and identify areas for improvement, survey data was collected from current and former mentors, students, and parents. Responses revealed common challenges related to student engagement, communication, and relationhsip building, as well as a need for clearer expectations and practical mentoring strategies. The handbook is designed to be applicable across both middle and high school settings, while particular emphasis on strategies that support younger students in buildings and trust.In response, the mentor handwork was developed to provide accessible, easy to follow guidance that supports mentors in their daily interactions with students. The handbook includes strategies for building trust, improving communication, managing group behavior, and creating engaging mentoring sessions. It also incorporates tolls such as conversation starts, session planning strategies, and a student engagement reward system to promote consistency and participation. The handbook is designed to serve as a long-term resource that can be continuously adapted and used by future College Corps cohorts of mentors to maintain consistency and continued success across the program. By standardizing mentoring practices and incorporating feedback from multiple perspectives, this project aims to strengthen mentor effectiveness, improve student outcomes, and enhance the overall impact of the IYT program.
