GPS Mentorship
GPS Mentorship (formerly International Student Mentorship Program) connects new international students (known as “mentees”) with current UCalgary students volunteers (known as “mentors”).
GPS Mentorship overview
The objectives of the GPS (Group/Pair/Share) Mentorship Program include:
- To welcome new international students to the University of Calgary community
- To provide peer-advice about adapting to studying at the University of Calgary (remotely or in-person) and adapting to life in Calgary
- To build connections among new international students starting their studies (online or in-person) and current UCalgary students
Once mentors are matched with a new international student (mentee), they will correspond by email prior to the students' arrival in Calgary (or start of remote studies).
GPS mentors will be matched with new international students (mentees) at a similar level and area of study leading into the upcoming term. Mentors and mentees can attend different types of events and maintain contact with their match throughout the term.
What stands for GPS?
- Group: At the start of the term, students will attend an online Welcome Reception where they will virtually meet each other if they haven't already.
- Pair: Students are encouraged to continue to maintain contact with their match throughout the term.
- Mentors will contact their mentee one-two times per month
- Mentees can contact their mentor with questions that come up along the way
- Share: Program participants will attend events together and submit an exit survey to share their expertise, experience, and contribute to knowledge of peer resources.
Fall 2022 Registration Dates
- Mentor and Mentee applications for Fall 2022 is now closed.
Want to learn more about mentorship experiences our past mentors and mentees had? The article below has great examples of conversations between pairs and supports a mentee will receive!
Mentors are current students (any returning Canadian, international, undergraduate, or graduate students) who volunteer to support incoming international students, by answering questions about campus and Canadian life, sharing relevant experiences, and attending events with their mentees.
Mentors must submit an application and attend a mentor training session. Training sessions provide instruction on how to respond to common questions (for example, related to campus housing, using the UCalgary student portal, buying textbooks, or getting around Calgary). After completing training, mentors will be intentionally matched with an incoming student in a similar area and level of study.
Mentor Participation
- Submit an application;
- Register and complete training;
- Connect with mentee via email/text/zoom and/or in-person at least once a month (roughly July-Dec for fall; Dec-Apr for winter);
- Attend Mentorship Welcome Reception events (date to be confirmed) with your mentee;
- Attend at least two other social events organized by ISS and other campus units with mentee throughout term;
- Report and provide feedback when communicating with mentee(s) at least 1-2 times per month in order to receive recognition on Co-Curricular Record (more information provided during training); AND
- Complete an exit survey.
Contact imentor@ucalgary.ca with any questions.
Mentor applications for Fall 2022 are now closed
Mentees are incoming international students (undergraduate, graduate, or exchange) who are new to life at the university, Calgary, and Canada! Mentees are interested in enhancing their student experience by:
- Connecting with an upper year student studying in the same program or faculty
- Getting advice about getting settled & living in Calgary
- Learning about social things to do
- Meeting new acquaintances and building social network
- Learning about UCalgary resources
- Feeling connected to a community
Mentee Participation
Participating as a mentee is an important and strongly recommended step of the New International Student Checklist.
Before you arrive in Calgary:
- Request a mentor
- Regularly check your email for messages from mentor and correspond to mentor's email.
- Check in with mentor at least once per month (roughly July-December for Fall term; December-April for Winter term)
Once you start your studies this fall:
- Attend Mentorship Welcome Reception (date to be confirmed) with your mentor
- Attend at least two social events with mentor throughout term
- Submit end-of-term feedback survey
Contact imentor@ucalgary.ca with any questions.
Mentee applications for Fall 2022 are now closed