Mentoring

Mentoring Program

Currently in its third year, UNMC’s High School Alliance is a partnership between UNMC and local school districts designed to offer unique and innovative science classes to high school juniors and seniors. The alliance provides the 55 enrolled students the opportunity to observe, shadow, and learn from renowned health care professionals and researchers at UNMC.

As part of the UNMC High School Alliance, students are voluntarily paired with a near-peer mentor, a UNMC professional student who serves as a role model to provide academic and career advice. Mentors and students communicate frequently and meet in person at least once per month.  The UNMC High School Alliance sponsors official events to help facilitate the relationship.  UNMC professional student mentors are from the Colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health, the School of Allied Health, and Graduate Studies.

Program Details

The UNMC High School Alliance students are on campus from 1-3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Most of the students drive themselves to campus, and therefore have the flexibility to meet before or after class. Mondays are designated “focus days” where students will job shadow, work on group projects, or hear from guest speakers. Mondays are a good opportunity for mentors and mentees to meet, but it’s best to check with the students in advance.

Mentor Expectations

Each UNMC High School Alliance student will be matched with a same-gender UNMC student who will serve as a mentor. Mentors are encouraged to contact their mentees approximately every other week, and meet with them in-person at least once per month. The UNMC High School Alliance will host official mentor-mentee events each semester.  Mentors are encouraged to develop the mentoring relationship outside of the official events.