Mentorship Program Process

To participate in the Mentorship Program, you must be an active ASPB member with an active website account (see the Members Area to register). Any member can register in the Mentorship Program as a Mentor, a Protégé or both depending on his/her needs.

Registering

  • Log on as an ASPB Member
  • Under the Mentorship Program sidebar, click on “Apply as Mentor” or “Apply as Protégé”
  • Update your information and provide a brief description of what you would like to achieve in the program. Please complete this information as thoroughly as possible.
  • When the form is complete, click on the Submit button to forward your Registration Form to the Mentorship Program Coordinator.

The Mentorship Program Coordinator will approve your registration and send you a welcome e-mail. Once you receive your welcome e-mail, you will have access to the pool lists of available Mentors and Protégés. Review the pool of available Mentors/Protégés to select a partner.

Selecting a Partner

You must register in the Mentorship Program to view the Mentor and Protégé pool lists. Visit the Mentor pool list if you are a Protégé, or the Protégé pool list if you are a Mentor, to review profiles and select a potential partner.

If successful in locating a potential Mentor/Protégé from the pool list, submit your request to the Mentoring Coordinator using the “Apply for Pairing” button. The Mentorship Program Coordinator will review your request and provide you with your potential partner’s contact information so that you can contact them directly to discuss the potential mentorship opportunity.

Negotiating the Partnership

Although mentorship programs usually focus on the needs of the Protégé, mentoring relationships are more successful if there are identifiable benefits for both participants. Before contacting your potential partner, be sure that you are clear on your own expectations of the program and what role(s) you expect the Mentor/Protégé to undertake. Clearly communicate your goals and needs to ensure you both agree on what the partnership will look like. Remember that the goals and objectives identified within the Contract must be within the Mentor’s expertise, capabilities and interests. You may also want to think about your individual work styles, personalities and schedules to determine if you can see yourself working with this person for a year. Resolving these questions before entering into a Mentoring Contract will help to avoid disappointments down the road. Both individuals must confirm their participation and agree to a one-year mentoring contract before the partnership can be finalized.

Entering into the Mentoring Contract

If you have found a successful match, inform the Mentoring Coordinator who will provide you with the Mentoring Contract. This document outlines the goals, objectives and action items to be addressed during the partnership and will provide a benchmark to evaluate your development within the Program.

It is recommended that the Protégé complete the Contract with input and advice from the Mentor. Please remember that the goals and objectives identified within the Contract must be within the Mentor’s expertise, capabilities and interests. Once the Mentoring Contract has been completed and signed by both individuals, it should be submitted to the Mentorship Program Coordinator. Each individual should also keep a copy to refer back to from time to time to help remain on track.

The mentorship process is not considered formal until the Mentoring Contract is received and approved. Once approved, you and your partner will be removed from the pool lists.

If you do not find a match on the ASPB website, you may have to look to other avenues to find a mentor. Some examples include professional colleagues, office mates, individuals from the general ASPB membership, etc. The Mentorship Program Coordinator can assist you in contacting these individuals to see if they are interested in participating in the Mentorship Program. For more information, contact the Mentorship Program Coordinator at mentorship@aspb.ab.ca.

Evaluation Forms

Evaluation forms are designed to help individuals assess their own growth and ensure they are meeting the requirements of the original contract – they are not intended to evaluate your partner’s performance.

At the 6-month mark, the Mentorship Program Coordinator will send both participants a brief evaluation form. Although the 6-month evaluation form is optional for Mentors, Protégés are required to complete and submit this form to the Mentorship Program Coordinator. Completing the form ensures the partnership is on track and helps to identify any questions/concerns that may have arisen during the first half of the mentorship relationship.

At the 12-month mark, the Mentorship Program Coordinator will provide both the Mentor and the Protégé with evaluation forms about the mentoring process and the Mentorship Program itself. Both Mentors and Protégés must complete and submit these forms. Once these completed forms are submitted, the contract is deemed complete and participants can choose to resubmit their names into the Mentor or Protégé pools.

If you have questions, contact the Mentorship Program Coordinator at mentorship@aspb.ab.ca.