Mentoring Program
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Development Team
Nicole Carr
Petre Freeman
Joshua Missouri
Cheryl Nicholls
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Advisory Board
Isabel Brown
Nicole Carr
Angela Coleman
Robbie Durr
Petre Freeman
Joshua Missouri
Michael Mitchell
Cheryl Nicholls
Robin Risling
Julio Turrens
Joy Washington
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Began as a grassroots initiative from Student
Academic Success and Retention and the
College of Allied Health Physician Assistant
Program
Designed to address the issue of retention
and degree completion of URM students
Based on the B-Men program at the
University of Alabama-Birmingham and
Based on the University Minority Mentor
Program at University of Florida
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JagROOTS facilitates relationships between
first year students from URM backgrounds
and faculty/staff at USA with the aim of:
◦ Helping students acclimate to college life and USA
◦ Facilitating relationship building between faculty/staff and
students
◦ Facilitating academic and social success of students at USA
and beyond
JagROOTS is designed to support students in
their transition to the University of South
Alabama. This objective is achieved through
active participation in one-on-one interactions
between mentors and mentees, participation in
JagROOTS events and attendance at cultural
events.
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Goal 1: Create community and build social networks for JagROOTS
mentees to foster belonging and support their development as
confident, socially responsible adults.
Goal 2: Develop JagROOTS mentees’ civic responsibility and
appreciation for community service by designing and carrying out
service-learning projects.
Goal 3: Positively impact academic success outcomes for JagROOTS
mentees with specific emphasis on graduation from college and
successfully achieving their goals for future careers or postbaccalaureate education.
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First year students admitted to USA are invited to apply to JagROOTS
online, during JAGFEST, and at Get On Board Day.
Mentees are assigned a USA faculty/staff mentor
Mentees and mentors create a mentoring partnership agreement that
includes regular meetings
Mentee are also teamed up with peer ambassadors and JagPALs
JagPALs provide academic assistance, workshops and monitored study
hours; peer ambassadors provide link to campus events and activities
Mentees and mentors meet and communicate regularly during the
student’s first year and less frequently during subsequent years.
USA JagROOTS
JagPALs
Ambassadors
USA Mentors
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Mentors should be comfortable:
◦ Obtaining and sharing knowledge about the
institution’s environment
◦ Providing advice regarding academic and
professional advancement
◦ Providing support and encouragement
◦ Encouraging mentee to ask questions
◦ Introducing the mentee to other key individuals and
resources inside and outside the institution
◦ Helping identify opportunities for mentee
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At the end of the year mentors should be able
to check each of the following task items off
the list:
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Established a positive relationship with mentee
Helped mentee develop or begin to develop life skills
Assisted mentee in obtaining additional resources
Increased mentee’s ability to interact with
people/groups from various backgrounds
(cultural/racial/socioeconomic, etc.)
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Tell you mentee why you chose to become a
mentor
Ask “Get to know you” questions:
◦ What are your hobbies? Tell me about your family
◦ What are your strengths? What are the areas that you feel
you need to develop skills in or learn more about?
Offer some information about your own
background
Ask your mentee what they would like to get out
of the relationship
Finishing Up:
◦ Tentatively schedule future meetings
◦ Establish e-mail check-in points
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Grab lunch or coffee on campus
Explore the vast variety of eateries Mobile has to
offer
Take a tour of the campus
Meet for a class at the Rec Center
Invite your mentee to “shadow” you during
something they indicated interests them
Email jagroots@southalabama.edu if you would like
additional information, or visit our website at
http://www.southalabama.edu/departments/academicsuccess/jagroots.html