The MaPPS will soon be accepting applications for mentees this fall semester, 2022. To apply, visit HERE.
What is MaPPS?
The MaPPS (Mentorship and Professional/Personal Support) program aims to engage LGBTQ staff and faculty in both formal and informal mentorship roles. LGBTQ+ students may come in with personal concerns or goals in addition to engaging in professional and academic discussions with their mentor. We hope to see mentors motivate mentees by recognizing mentees’ strengths and accomplishments, help mentees sharpen skills or improve their capability, and guide mentees’ decision making process. The program requires a semester long commitment, with the option of taking on the same or a new mentor/mentee the following semester(s.) Please take note that this is a volunteer commitment with no financial compensation offered.
Who is MaPPS best suited for?
MaPPS is best suited for students who:
- are interested in making connections with staff and faculty at the University of Michigan
- want to build connections with the LGBTQ+ community in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and at the University of Michigan
- are seeking opportunities for personal growth
If you want to request a mentor:
Start by filling out a Mentor Request Form.
From there, the MaPPS Coordinators will match the requestor with a trained MaPPS mentor. Mentors and mentees will receive an email with information about who they have matched with. Mentors and mentees are expected to set up an initial meeting shortly after. Students and staff / faculty who participate in the MaPPS program are also asked to complete a confidential survey so that we can continually assess and improve the program.
If you're interested in being a mentor:
Please note that MaPPS is not accepting new mentors for winter semester 2020. Next semester, mentors are welcome to fill out our Mentor Interest Form, and a staff member will connect with you. Once accepted as a mentor, you'll participate in a training to better prepare you for being a MaPPS mentor.
What particular features of this program make it helpful?
The flexible nature of the program with regard to scheduling:
The MaPPS Program is highly flexible. Once a MaPPS requestor is paired with a MaPPS mentor, they can arrange a place and time to meet that works for both of them, including evenings and weekends. The program requires a semester long commitment, with the option of taking on the same or a new mentor/mentee the following semesters.
A network of resources:
There are many institutional barriers to receiving higher education or being successful in a college program. We hope to help alleviate some of the challenges often experienced at the University of Michigan by providing students with a good network of resources, including staff and faculty members to seek guidance from through a mentorship relationship.
Formal and Informal Mentorship:
The MaPPS program aims to engage staff and faculty in both formal and informal mentorship roles. LGBTQ+ students may come in with personal concerns or goals in addition to engaging in professional and academic discussions with their mentor. In contrast to advising, we would like to see mentors to motivate mentees by recognizing mentees’ strengths and accomplishments, help mentees sharpen skills or improve their capability, and guide mentees’ decision making process. In addition, we encourage each mentor-mentee pair to explore events and programming made for and by the LGBTQ+ community at and near the University of Michigan.
For any questions, please contact our Support Services Lead, Alyssa Garcial at adellors@umich.edu or call our office at (734) 764-4186.
