ACE MENTOR PROGRAM

Training

Provide overview of ACE

mentor program

Provide comprehensive

orientation to mentoring.

Identify appropriate

guidelines for the

mentoring experience.

ACE Mentor Program Mission

ACE Mentor Program is a national

organization with a two-fold mission:

To enlighten and motivate students

toward architecture, construction,

engineering and related careers.

To provide mentoring and scholarship

opportunities for future designers and

constructors.

Industry Facts

Construction – 2nd largest industry

By Year 2015 – Construction Industry

is projected to have 1 million job

openings

For every 5 people leaving industry,

only 1 new person entering industry

Workforce Development is big issue

Brief History of the ACE Mentor Program

• Founded in 1995 in New York City

• Began with 1 team of 30 students in 1 city mentored by volunteers from 4 firms

• 2002

28 cities, more than 1800 students,

` 600 professional mentors

• 2008-2009

63 affiliates with 120 sites

Over 10,000 students,

Over 2500 professional mentors

• Five Year Strategic Plan

100,000 students

Additional Facts ACE Mentor Program

92% of ACE graduates enroll in college.

69% of the ACE participants are minority

students (Black, Hispanic or Asian).

31% of ACE students are female.

More than $8.2 million in scholarship money

has been awarded to ACE participants

ACE mentors have contributed more than

$22.3 million worth of pro bono time per year.

NationalACE Mentor Program

ACE National Board

Affiliate Board

Team Team

Overview ACE Mentor Program

Basis of Program:

Teams of professionals (mentors) from local firms work with high school students (mentees) to encourage careers in architecture, construction, and engineering.

ACE Mentor Program follows a group mentoring model.

- 7 to 10 mentors

- 20-30 high school students

Meeting are after school for 2 hours

Team meets throughout school year,

usually every other week

Each team selects a design project and students go through the entire design process.

Projects are modeled on real life activities.

Definition of a Mentor

Men-tor n. 1. a wise, loyal advisor. 2. a teacher or coach.Webster’s New World College Dictionary, (fourth edition, 2000)

Introduction to Mentoring

Do you remember the

mentors in your life?

Effective mentors are:

• Responsible

• Committed

• Patient

• Good listeners

• Positive role models

• Confidential

• Caring

Steps to Become an ACE Mentor

Mentors must complete an online

application

www.acementor.org

All mentors must undergo and pass a

criminal background check

Mentors must complete a mentor

training program

Mentors are assigned to teams with a

team leader

Calendar and schedule of activities are

completed and distributed

Benefits of Mentoring

Feel better about yourself

for having impacted and

shaped the lives of youth

Improve your morale and

job satisfaction

Inspire young people to

learn from you

Contribute to creating a

skilled job market

Benefits to Students

Gain real life experiences

Learn about careers in

architecture, construction

and engineering

Improve self-esteem and

social skills

Explore life goals

Good Mentors

THE DO’s

Give attention to students

Listen with respect

Be committed, consistent and persistent

Be positive, reliable and tolerant

Respect the students’ viewpoint

Have a sense of humor

Communicate clearly

Remain confidential

Policy: Confidentiality/Reporting of Abuses

All information you learn or are told

about your students is

confidential. Sharing that

information is a violation. But, if any

youth tells you something life

threatening, you must report it

immediately to school and team

leader(s). They will take it from

there.

Examples: child abuse,

physical abuse; sexual abuse

and general child safety

Policy: Records

Students’ family or personal records

are confidential. Mentors should not

privy to this information.

Records include: demographic,

academic, anecdotal, tests,

specialists exams, medical, home

life, personality, and adjustment.

Good Mentors

More Do’s

Wear appropriate attire at all times

Leave cell phones turned off - Emergencies are the exception.

Commit to the day and time of the team

meetings. Don’t be a “no show!”

Let the group know if you are unable to

make an appointment.

Encourage the students to also follow these rules.

Policy: Dealing With Diversity

Respect Diversity: Culture is more than race or

ethnicity. It encompasses values, lifestyle and social

norms (e.g. communication styles, mannerisms,

apparel, family structure, traditions, time orientation,

response to authority). Learn about the values and

traditions of your students’ culture.

Do not engage in stereotyping.

Help students to celebrate the uniqueness of their

culture by showing curiosity and interest in the

history and traditions of their culture.

As a mentor, remain NON-JUDGMENTAL.

Good Mentors

The DO NOT’s

Do not serve as students’ psychiatrist, priest, minister, rabbi, or probation officer

You are not the financier and ATM machine

Do not expect dramatic changes overnight

Mentors should not share personal information

• Age

• Telephone and Fax Numbers

• Address

This is personal information and should not

be disclosed and shared with students.

Good Mentors

Mentor giving gifts to Students is prohibited

Limit Physical Contact to ensure maximum program protection Limit to: Hand shake

Pat on the back

No meetings behind closed doors

Students should not be alone with one mentor

Policy: Transportation

Do not transport students in personal cars.

First Time You Meet Your Group

Get to know the students

Have students introduce themselves and what grade they are in.

Ask why they decided to join the ACE program

Talk about their personal interests, favorite book, movie, sport and ambitions

Introduce yourself

Use first names if you are comfortable with the informal approach

Talk about your job, what it entails and job entry requirements

Share your personal interests

The Student Teams

Students in the teams will have

different levels of motivation, self-

esteem, academics and skills.

Some will have no industry

knowledge while others will.

Your job as the mentor is to inspire

them, allow them to think creatively

and recognize their differences.

Have fun and they will want to

continue in the program.

Communicating With Students

Give undivided attention

Make eye contact (not appropriate in all

cultures)

Be sensitive to body language

Give students the chance to talk

Encourage students to ask questions

Praise their creativity and initiative

Communicating, continued

Give honest feedback on ideas

Give positive reinforcement

Ask “How did that make you feel?”

Acknowledge that you are listening

Ask Open-ended questions

Discourage poor behavior

Activities DuringEach Session

Provide a written agenda or outline

for the session.

Make sure your team has a specific

goal to be accomplished at each

meeting that builds toward the final

design project.

Take attendance at the meetings.

Follow up with mentors and

students who missed any session

Serve refreshments. Students will

be hungry and love food.

ACE Design Projects

Each team will develop a real life design project.

At the end of the year, the team of students will present their final project.

To explain their projects, students can include presentation boards with drawings, numbers, text, photos, powerpoint presentations, models and other things.

Project Goals

Discuss team goals with students:

1. Draw up a contract

2. Outline the goal

3. Each meeting, assess your progress and pitfalls

4. Chart the results

5. Reassess or reaffirm the value of the goals

you set and make adjustments if needed

Remember that students’ goals must be their own.

Special Activities

ACE Mentor Program sponsors:

Field trips

Visits construction sites

Other special events.

Events

Graduating seniors are invited to apply for an

ACE Mentor Program scholarship.

Scholarships are available through the ACE

affiliate and the national office.

Participation and attendence of the student in

the ACE program are two very important factors

in the select scholarship winners.

Scholarship applications are available on the

ACE website.

What If You Have Issues?

Any issues and concerns that

you may have about your

involvement with your team,

the group of students and an

individual student should be

addressed immediately and

confidentially to your team

captain and school officials.

You are not supposed to know it all!

Ending Your Involvement

If you have to terminate your

involvement with the team:

Talk to your team Captain first and then inform the other mentors and students.

Set a date for your last meeting.

Be honest, candid and supportive regardless of the reason for closure.

Talk about your thoughts/feelings.

Encourage students to do the same.

Don’t make promises you can’t keep.

Thank You and Resources

Thank you for your interest in becoming a part of the ACE Mentor Program.

Information and tips about activities and other team information is available on the website under the mentor page which includes the ACE Mentor Best Practices Manual.

For More Information

ACE MENTOR PROGRAM

National Office

400 Main Street

Suite 711

Stamford, CT 06901

(203) 323-8550

Fax: (203) 323-7298

www.acementor.org