Future Mentorship Frequently Asked Questions

Questions can be directed to Zahra Tehrani, Clinical Assistant Professor, John Martinson Honors College, ztehrani@purdue.edu

Is prior mentoring experience required?

No prior mentoring experience is needed. Anyone who is interested in building their mentoring skills is welcome.

Can the training course be taken online?

Not currently. In-person attendance will be required.

Will HONR 599 count towards my graduate coursework?

The course has been approved by the graduate school and counts towards the Intercultural Competence Mentorship Certificate. Please consult with your department to determine if it will count towards your degree program’s requirements.

Is HONR 599 a letter graded course or P/NP?

Letter graded.

Are mentors expected to develop a new research project for the mentee?

No. Undergrads typically assist graduate student mentors on projects that have already been developed or are underway in their research group.

Are mentors expected to help students satisfy any Honor College requirements through the research experience?

All students in the Honors College must complete a "Scholarly Project" (SP) as part of their curriculum requirements. To satisfy this requirement, they must engage in a sustained research experience that culminates in the public dissemination of their work (e.g., present at the Purdue undergraduate research conference or submit a paper to JPUR).

One of the goals of this program is to connect students with a mentored research experience that may lead to the completion of their SP; however, we do not require mentees to use this research experience as their SP. A may mentee may decide not to continue working with the mentor in the spring semester. Mentees who wish to continue working in the same lab/research group in the spring semester may do so with the PI’s approval.

How many semesters are required to satisfy the “scholarly project”?

The Honors College does not require a minimum number of semesters for satisfying the scholarly project. Typically, students complete a scholarly project over two or more semesters. For students who want to complete a scholarly project in one semester, it is strongly recommended that they enroll in 3 credits of independent research to ensure they have generated enough knowledge for a public presentation.

Are there any deliverables required of the mentee at the end of the fall semester?

This will be determined mostly by the mentor and faculty PI. The expected deliverables and grading of mentees will need to be specified in the mentor-mentee compact. There will be a few activities that mentors will need to complete with their mentees as part of the training course and these assignments also will be included in the mentor-mentee compact. Note: Honors College students must complete a "Scholarly Project" (SP) as part of their curriculum requirements. If the mentee chooses to have this research experience become their SP, they will need to publicly present or publish their work at some point for the SP requirement to be satisfied.

Do mentees need to be paid?

No. Mentees will enroll in independent research for 1-3 credits in the department of the mentor. Independent research credits will count towards the mentee’s Honors College academic credit requirements.

The mentor and faculty PI are responsible for establishing an independent study course for their mentee(s) at the start of the fall semester. Alternatively, mentees could elect to be financially compensated through federal work study; however, they may not receive both academic credit and financial compensation.

Will mentors receive financial compensation?

No. Graduate students will receive 3 credits for the course. The Honors College offers grants up to $1000 to undergrads for supporting their research in the mentor’s research group (e.g., research supplies/equipment, travel to field sites, access to databases, etc.)

Will the mentees be first-year students?

No. The mentees will be second-, third-, or fourth-year undergraduate students from the Honors College. If you have a strong preference for students to be of a particular year, please indicate this on your application.

10. I am currently mentoring an undergraduate student. Can I still participate in the program if I don’t want to mentor an additional student?

Yes, you may still participate in the program if your current mentee is a student in either the Honors College or LSAMP program. If your mentee does not meet the criteria, your application will be considered and placed on the waiting list.