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ACADEMIC AND SITE MENTORS
Academic and Site Mentors are a critical part of the Fellowship process. Their feedback, advice, and guidance are crucial to an enriching experience for Fellows as well as the success of the projects that the Fellows are leading. Often, mentors report that mentoring a Fellow is a professionally enriching and energizing experience for them. The time they make available to help supervise Fellows is greatly appreciated.
Mentors help Fellows manage their community service projects as they also balance academic and personal commitments. Mentors should help Fellows plan and carry out a realistic project, facilitate connections with community and health representatives, and provide advice where needed.
Fellows are also supported in this process through the guidance of their local Program Director, who makes sure that they obtain the knowledge, skills and experience needed to become leaders in community service. Throughout the fellowship year, Program Directors are available to provide support to the academic and site mentors and to solve any problems that may come up.
Time Commitment and Responsibilities:
Mentors and Fellows are encouraged to develop a working relationship that best meets their needs and expectations for a successful Fellowship year. The time commitment of a mentor varies with each project and Fellow.
Specific responsibilities of Academic Mentors and Site Mentors are listed below:
Academic Mentor Responsibilities:
• Provide assistance in designing and implementing the Fellow's project;
• Assist the Fellow in determining if the project needs Internal Review Board (IRB) approval, and guide the Fellow through the process when necessary;
• Be available by telephone and/or email over the course of the Fellow's project to discuss the project's implementation or to help solve any problems that may arise.
• Meet with the Fellow as appropriate;
• Provide general guidance in the personal and professional development of the Fellow and assist the student in balancing academic obligations with the service project when necessary;
• Act as a resource to the Fellow for professional contacts that may assist her/him over the course of the fellowship;
• Review the Fellow’s monthly reflections sent via email and respond if appropriate;
• Complete a mentor survey at the end of the Fellowship year; and
• Report any concerns to the Program staff.
Site Mentor Responsibilities:
• Orient the Fellow to the organization, including its personnel, policies, physical facilities, clientele, and the surrounding geographic area;
• Facilitate introductions between the Fellow and agency staff and/or stakeholders;
• Communicate any safety issues to the Fellow;
• Provide assistance in shaping the Fellow's project;
• Provide practical guidance to the Fellow on project implementation and ongoing evaluation, including overcoming challenges within the project or agency;
• Provide general guidance in the personal and professional development of the Fellow;
• Review the Fellow’s monthly reflections sent via email and respond if appropriate;
• Complete a site mentor survey at the end o the Fellowship year; and
• Report any concerns to the Program staff.
Required Communication:
1. Project Description Form
Fellows will contact mentors in regard to completing a Project Description Form that outlines the goals of the project, the actions needed to meet those goals, evaluation criteria, and plans they will explore to sustain the project once the Fellowship is complete. Fellows and mentors need to review and sign the form at the beginning of the project period. Once the Program Director approves the signed form, work on the project may be initiated. The Project Description Form serves as a framework for goals and expectations; however, these elements may be modified as the project unfolds in order to adjust to the needs of the population being served. Any modifications to the goals and expectations need to be communicated to the Program Director in a timely manner.
2. Monthly Reports
Fellows will copy mentors on the monthly reports they submit to the Program Director once the project is initiated. This will give mentors an opportunity to provide advice and feedback. Furthermore, Fellows should be in periodic contact with mentors as needed throughout the fellowship year.
3. Mentor Evaluation
At the end of the program year mentors will be asked to complete a brief survey which provides feedback on the Fellow’s project and the mentor’s experience with The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship.
OUR MENTORS SPEAK
“The Fellows’ service has exemplified the obligation of health care providers and reminds us why we entered the health care profession. All of the Fellows who I have mentored possessed compassion in helping others and a unique leadership trait in advocating for those in need.”
– Brent Lin, DMD, Associate Clinical Professor at the University of California, San Francisco, Academic Mentor
“The Schweitzer Fellowship has been such a wonderful gift to the students who have participated. It’s opened them up to a whole realm of possibilities and allowed them to interact with students from other disciplines. The Fellowship is different from other community service opportunities in that the projects are student-directed and far larger in scope. It gives students the opportunity to coordinate all aspects that make the project a success.”
– Tanya Maggi, Director of Performance Outreach for the New England Conservatory of Music (NEC), Academic Mentor
“I have really admired the commitment to service learning that the Fellows have demonstrated. It has heightened staff awareness about the importance of dental health and has increased the involvement of UCSF at our Camp Mendocino.”
– Tavi Baker, MPH, Citywide Director of Health & Fitness for Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco, Site Mentor
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