JUMP! mentor applications for 2024-2025 are CLOSED.

JUMP! mentee applications for 2024-2025 are CLOSED.

The JUMP! program seeks to enhance the retention of undergraduates in all areas of STEM through direct interaction with graduate student mentors. By building relationships between undergrad and grad students, we hope to enhance the personal, educational, and career skills that will allow students to excel in their undergraduate scientific career, as well as provide them the tools they need to start the next stage of their scientific endeavors.

Mentors will meet with each mentee individually at least one time per quarter or with their mentee cluster group, assessing their needs within the mentorship program. In the past, there have been workshops organized by WGS for the JUMP! program centered around topics within professional development based on suggestions from mentor applicants as well as interest from the undergraduate mentees. The materials and presentations from these past workshops are available on the WGS website, under the ‘resources’ tab.

Discussion topics/to-do objectives will include management of degree progression, research lab availability, career advice, job prospects, the grad school application process, letters of recommendation, etc. It is important to note that JUMP! is not a tutoring service. Each mentor/mentee plan should be highly tailored and individualized plan to each mentee’s interests and goals. JUMP! requires that all graduate and undergraduate participants complete self- and peer-evaluations at the end of each quarter to help guide the program’s progression.

JUMP! is headed by a chair on the WGS executive board and is responsible for selecting applicants (both graduate and undergraduate) to the program, organizing group gatherings, reviewing and analyzing end of term evaluations, as well as acting as the point of contact in the event of problems with mentor/mentee relationships.