Due to the incredible interest from the UT PRSSA Chapter, we have a great
need for PR professionals in the Knoxville area to participate in our new
"Mentoring Program." Over 60 students have requested a mentor. We are
looking to match up a student and a PR professional in an informal,
mentoring process for the Spring Semester. Each of the students has been
given the following "Rules of the Road" to work with the professional to
design a program that will work for both persons busy schedules. Please
consider helping with this exciting new program and responding to myself or
Ellen Liston, APR, at [log in to unmask]
Here's what the students received:
Rules of the Road
I hope each of you is as excited as Ellen and I are about the opportunities
the mentoring program can provide you. It is your chance to begin to
network and build upon the classroom experience that you are getting at UT.
Each of the professionals has agreed to participate, but it is your
responsibility to contact them to get your mentoring program started and to
determine what type of mentoring program will best fit your needs.
There are no requirements or expectations for the mentoring program, other
than your own. It is up to you to contact the professional to which you
have been assigned and discuss what your plans/expectations are for the
semester. Here are some options to consider:
* A breakfast, lunch or coffee meeting to discuss the public relations
profession with your mentor (several of you might want to combine with other
professionals and students to maximize this opportunity)
*
* Visit/tour your mentor's workplace and discuss their role in public
relations
*
* Shadow your mentor for a day on his/her job
*
* Weekly phone calls or emails that provide an opportunity for you to
get answers to questions you may have about the public relations profession
*
* Request that your mentor help identify other public relations
professionals that work in areas of PR that you are interested in
At the end of the first 30 days, we will send each of you and your mentors a
survey to determine what is and is not working with this approach. At that
time, we may reassign students/mentors, add new dimensions to the program,
or continue the program without change throughout the semester. At the end
of 60 days, we will conduct a final survey to see if there is sufficient
value from both students and mentors to implement a Fall Semester program.
Please contact your mentor early and determine the level of involvement and
contact that you would like to have in order for all of us to provide for
the best experience. Let me know if you have any questions or comments.
Most importantly, have a great time.
Thanks for your help once again.
Gary McCormick, APR
Coleman Research Corporation
865-690-0383
865-690-0639 FAX
865-659-9743 CELL
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