Mentors - We Need You!!

The UC Davis Redwood SEED (Supported Education to Elevate Diversity) Scholars Program needs mentors who are willing to support our scholars. The support our mentors provide is invaluable. Mentors are integral to the success of the Redwood SEED Scholars.

Currently, we have over 100 UC Davis undergraduate students, several UC Davis Med School students, grad students and Ph.D. students in Human Development, Psychology, and Biomedical Engineering who are mentors for our Redwood SEED Scholars.

What is the value of this mentorship opportunity for the mentors?

We believe that mentorship is a two way street - mutually beneficial for all involved.

In study after study, mentorship of students with intellectual disabilities in a post-secondary program is “transformational” for the mentors involved.

Mentors develop “soft skills” that are necessary for success in the workplace and valuable in real life. Skills like patience, compassion, altruism, open-mindedness, flexibility, ability to problem-solve and think on your feet, and clear communication are just some of the skills that mentors identify being developed within themselves with this opportunity. Mentors also describe the link of mentorship as a stabilizing force during the difficult moments of college for themselves.

Here are a few quotes from some of our mentors on how impactful the experience has been:

“Love this program so much ♥️ It’s been the biggest, most amazing part of my time here at Davis! Beyond grateful for everyone and everything this program represents.”

 - Sienna Weldon - Masters in Art History, UC Davis 2023

 

“ I look back to the moments of being a part of such an inspiring group of individuals who have surpassed so many hoops to be where they are now and I am super ecstatic to have been a part of it all!  This program has helped inspire me to pursue a lifelong career in changing special education to better serve individuals with intellectual differences/disabilities and I cannot wait to start advancing my education. I wanted to extend my deepest thank you for all you have done for me and the redwood seed scholar community, thank you so much!” 

- Suheng Chiv - BS in Psychology, Minor in Asian American History, UC Davis 2023

We have PAID mentors in five areas:

• Academic Mentors: Academic Mentors support the Redwood SEED Scholars in  academics. This includes help with organization, executive functioning, planning, accessing student supports on campus and tutoring in academic classes. For our first year Redwood SEED Scholars, the Academic Mentor supports the students in a group setting from 4-5pm Monday - Friday or on the week-ends as needed. 

Our second and third year Redwood SEED Scholars take UC Davis courses in their area of interest. We need Academic Mentors to support their learning. The Academic Mentor will meet twice a week for an hour to review what has happened in the UC Davis course. At these academic meetings, the Redwood SEED Scholar and the mentor go over readings, projects, journals or writing assignments for the course and prepare for the upcoming week. The Academic Mentor is a time commitment of at least two hours a week.

• Social Inclusion Mentors: Social Inclusion Mentors help the Redwood SEED Scholars to learn specific skills that are necessary to navigate campus. In the first weeks of the first year, this includes learning paths around campus. As time goes on, it includes learning how to bike ride safely on campus and help the scholars to learn how to use Unitrans. 

Social Inclusion Mentors help Redwood SEED Scholars reach out to campus organizations and/or clubs that are in their area of interest. The Social Inclusion Mentors build a bridge to social opportunities and support the Redwood SEED Scholars as needed to successfully participate in these opportunities.  Most Social Inclusion Mentors are partnered up one-to-one or one-to-two. The Social Inclusion Mentor is a time commitment of at least two hours a week.

• Health and Wellness Mentors: We know the health disparities that exist for adults with intellectual disabilities. For this reason, our health and wellness mentors will work with our Redwood SEED Scholars to help develop healthy habits that will last into adulthood. Health and wellness mentors will meet each week to exercise, consider food choices, learn about nutrition, mindfulness and mental health with the Redwood SEED Scholars. The Health and Wellness Mentor position is a time commitment of at least two hours a week.
• Employment Mentors: Our program is dedicated to improving the adult lives of people with intellectual disabilities and employment is a key component of that effort. The employment experience for the Redwood SEED Scholars is all about building employment, communication and executive functioning skills in context. When you develop skills and are employed with a living wage, you have the freedom and opportunity to live your life on your terms and to follow your dreams. Employment Mentors will support Redwood SEED Scholars in their employment experience either on campus or within the larger community. Employment Mentors typically work in three or four hour shifts, depending on the mentor’s availability. Fridays seem to be a common work day for our Redwood SEED Scholars but other days are available as well. The Employment Mentor receives specialized training from our Employment Director and Employment Mentor Coordinator. ​​​​​​The Employment Mentor position is a 3-6 hour a week time commitment working one-to-one or one-to-two with Redwood SEED Scholars.
• Residential Housing Mentors: Residential Living Mentors work to support Redwood SEED Scholars in residential living. First and second year Redwood SEED Scholars live in the dorms on campus with other first-year UC Davis students. The Residential Living Mentors check in with each scholar in the morning and at night to see how their residential living experience is going. The Redwood SEED Scholars share dorm rooms together, use a shared bathroom with the dorm floor and eat in the dining commons with all the other first-year students. Living in the dorms is an adjustment for every single student, degree-seeking or not, and our residential mentors work to help the Redwood SEED Scholars navigate these new experiences and support them as needed. The Residential Housing Mentor position is a 3-10 hour a week time commitment.

If you have successfully supported Redwood SEED Scholars in dorm living, you will be invited to support the scholars in their third and fourth year in apartment living. Apartment Living Mentors work to support scholars in grocery shopping, meal planning, meal prep, cooking, and cleaning. The Apartment Living Mentors also work to provide one social inclusion opportunity each week and help to build other independent living skills. The Apartment Living Mentor position is a 5-10 hour a week time commitment.

We Are Hiring!

If you or someone you know has a heart for students with intellectual disabilities and would be interested in becoming a mentor to our Redwood SEED scholars, please follow these steps.

1. Fill out this application.
    
2. When your application is reviewed, you may be asked to interview for the mentorship opportunity.
    
3. When you become a mentor, you are given 10 hours of training and have a meeting once-a-month during the quarter.

Want to do more??

• Sign up to take the mentorship and allyship course offered by Beth Foraker in the First-Year Seminar portal:

Disability Studies, Neurodiversity, Mentorship: How To Be An Ally -

**This course is not required but builds skills, gives knowledge and is a fantastic resource for future mentors.

1. Mentors are solicited in the 8th week of the quarter. Fill out this application.
    
2. When your application is reviewed, you may be asked to interview for the mentorship opportunity.
    
3. If you do become a mentor, you will be given 10 hours of training. 

The summative assignment for the First-Year Seminar Mentorship Course is to create a video welcoming the Redwood SEED Scholars to campus. The students are asked to share a favorite place on campus, an inside secret about UC Davis, or to explain some part of UC Davis that is essential to know.

View some of the very best UC Davis student-created videos