What it's Like to be a Campus Connections Mentor
Campus Connections is currently accepting applications for the Fall 2024 semester!
Students are encouraged to submit applications by March 25, 2024 (application priority due date) but we will continue to accept applications as space permits.
Watch the video below to learn about what it’s like to be a mentor in the Campus Connections program:
Mentor Recruitment
Apply for Campus Connections today! To begin the application process, please view the informational video prior to submitting your application.
The Mentor Application online form is a Microsoft Form. In order to access the form, you will first need to sign in to Office 365 with your ename@colostate.edu email address and your password.
Important dates to make note of:
- Background check instructions and registration information will be provided to all students who are accepted to participate in Campus Connections.
- Background checks must be completed by May 10, 2024.
- Students must register by August 1, 2024.
- MANDATORY training for ALL MENTORS and MENTOR COACHES on Friday, September 6, 2024, from 4 – 8 p.m. (location TBA). Regular lab sessions will not take place that week.
Campus Connections Recruitment Team may be reached at CampusConnectionsRecruitment@gmail.com.
For questions related to background checks, contact Dr. Jen Krafchick at jen.krafchick@colostate.edu.
Be part of the Campus Connections mentoring program.
Campus Connections is a 3-credit upper division course (HDFS 470A), and a powerful campus-based therapeutic mentoring program for youth ages 10-18. In our program, youth are paired in one-on-one mentoring relationships with undergraduate Colorado State University students.
CSU students from approximately 90 majors participate in Campus Connections as mentors or mentor coaches. Human Development and Family Studies undergraduates (and other majors) can also complete their internship with Campus Connections. Most undergraduate students begin their involvement serving as mentors and many return for multiple semesters participating in the Campus Connection’s leadership track. In addition to undergraduate students, graduate students in the HDFS department’s Marriage and Family Therapy program provide therapy to mentees during the program.
Campus Connections mentors serve as positive role models to their mentees and many develop strong bonds throughout the program. Student mentors are part of a dynamic team designed to provide academic, social, and wellness support to youth mentees. Students attend a weekly lab session from 3:30 – 9:30 p.m. Youth mentees participate from 4:30 – 8:30 p.m., arriving an hour after and leaving an hour before mentors, mentor coaches, and instructors, which allows time to prepare for and wrap up the evening.
Each week mentors take a 30-minute walk on campus with their mentee, spend an hour assisting their mentee with homework and study skills, have dinner together with other pairs in mentor families, participate in a variety of pro-social activities that challenge both the youth and the mentors to try new things. Mentors also have the opportunity to lead activities such as sports, art, and music, etc.
Campus Connections offers many unique opportunities and courses for students to get involved with the program throughout their CSU career. Opportunities for Student Involvement
Mentor - HDFS470A for 3 credits
Campus Connections mentors serve as positive role models to their mentees and many develop strong bonds throughout the program. Student mentors are part of a dynamic team designed to provide academic, social, and wellness support to youth mentees. Many students take this course more than one time in order to have the full Campus Connections course experience and to earn the full 3 credits for doing it. Mentors must complete all assignments associated with the course.
Mentor Coach - HDFS470B for 3 credits
Mentor Coaches provide leadership for the Campus Connections. They are required to attend scheduled weekly lab session and may be assigned a mentee to mentor if needed. Mentor Coaches assist with training, are responsible for completing all assigned readings for the course, and facilitating small group discussions with mentors. They provide mentoring supervision to one or two mentor families, review student mentors’ weekly journal entries, and facilitate pro-social activities during weeks 4 and 5. Mentor Coaches also advise mentors on planning and implementing their required three-week activity with youth.
*** Students interested in becoming Mentor Coaches must have at least one semester of experience serving as a mentor.
Lead Mentor Coach - HDFS470B for 3 credits
Lead Mentor Coaches attend the weekly Campus Connections Instruction team meeting, all weekly lab sessions, all training sessions, and serve as the logistics coordinator during lab each week. Lead Mentor Coaches Lead Mentor Coaches play a critical role in training, supervising mentors and Mentor Coaches, preparing for weekly labs, and ensuring that all aspects of the weekly lab run smoothly. This is a selective leadership position and only four positions are available each semester.
*** Students interested in becoming Lead Mentor Coaches must have Mentor Coach experience.
Special Project Assistants - HDFS470C for 3 credits
Special projects vary depending on the interests of the student and needs of the program. Projects may be in Campus Connections lab sessions or assisting faculty with program development or research projects.
Research Assistant - HDFS498 for 1-6 credits
Occasionally opportunities exist for students to assist faculty and graduate assistants with all facets of Campus Connections research efforts. Research Assistants may assist mentor and mentee survey administration, interview transcription, data entry and management, publications, and general program support including administrative tasks. Research experience is essential for admission to many graduate programs. If you are interested in participating in Campus Connections as a research assistant, contact Toni Zimmerman at toni.zimmerman@colostate.edu.
HDFS Internship - HDFS 477/488 for 6-8 credits
Human Development and Family Studies students who are Campus Connection Interns serve as a mentor or mentor coach and provide additional program support in the office. Interns coordinate the Foodbank program, CSU student and youth recruitment efforts, assist the case manager, and coordinate learning community events, among a multitude of other responsibilities. HDFS Interns must successfully complete the HDFS internship placement process and be offered an internship with Campus Connections.
Internship (Non-HDFS majors) – variable credits and course codes
Students from non-HDFS departments are also eligible for internships with Campus Connections. Past interns have come from Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, and other departments. Interested students must have prior Campus Connections experience and contact Mackenzie Miller at mackenzie.miller@colostate.edu the semester before their desired internship.
Campus Connections Learning Community
Students who participate in Campus Connections are invited to participate in this nonresidential learning community. Learning Community members engage in community service projects associated with Campus Connections and supported the youth and community partners. The Campus Connections Learning Community holds a food drive to support the Foodbank of Larimer County and a clothing/winter coat drive to support Campus Connections youth and their families. For more information about learning community, please visit: https://www.lc.colostate.edu/