Mentor Eligibility 

As an AAMP mentor, you play a vital role in fostering connection, belonging, and professional growth for new advising colleagues. Your guidance helps mentees navigate integration into UC Davis with greater confidence and clarity. 

Mentors:

  • Must have at least three years of experience in an academic advising role at UC Davis.
  • Must submit advising philosophy with mentorship application.

Please note the mentors’ advising philosophies will be made publicly available on the AAMP website. If you have less than three years of experience in an academic advising role at UC Davis but believe you can serve as a mentor, please email the AAMP Co-Chairs. 

What We Ask Of Mentors 

As an AAMP mentor, you play a vital role in fostering connection, belonging, and professional growth for new advising colleagues. Your guidance helps mentees navigate integration into UC Davis with greater confidence and clarity. 

We ask that you: 

  • Be present and accessible. Maintain regular communication with your mentee(s)—ideally once a month—through Microsoft Teams, Slack, Zoom, or in-person check-ins. As much as possible given your workload, be open to quick questions and informal conversations as they adjust to their role. 
  • Share insights and anticipate the year ahead. Provide context about the advising cycle and upcoming responsibilities. Help your mentee(s) anticipate challenges and plan proactively using tools, templates, or tips that have supported you. 
  • Expand their network. Introduce your mentee(s) to advisors outside their immediate unit to help them feel connected across our decentralized campus. A simple introduction can go a long way. 
  • Be a sounding board. Offer a safe, non-judgmental space for your mentee to share ideas, ask questions, and talk through challenges.  
  • Share workflow tips and professional insights. From prioritizing tasks to navigating systems like OASIS or Banner, offer guidance that can ease the day-to-day experience of a new advisor. 

What Mentors Do Not Do 

Mentors play an important role in offering support and perspective—but they are not expected to: 

  • Provide formal onboarding or direct, on-the-job training 
  • Shadow or facilitate reverse shadowing 
  • Resolve performance issues, workplace conflict, or personnel matters 
  • Serve as supervisors 
  • Have all the answers—mentorship is about shared learning, not simply expertise 

Mentors are encouraged to create space for reflection, connection, and growth, while directing mentees to appropriate campus resources or supervisors when issues arise outside the scope of mentoring.