Become a mentor

What is a COMPASS mentor?

COMPASS mentors are trusted advisors that offer culturally-centered support to immigrant secondary students who need it. Figure 1. illustrates the primary responsibilities of a COMPASS mentor.

Figure 1.

Responsibilities of a COMPASS mentor

Culturally-centered mentorship model for COMPASS (3).png

Why become a COMPASS mentor?

Make a difference in the lives of young immigrants
Make connections
Gain new perspectives
Shape future leaders
Become recognized as an advisor
Strengthen your leadership and communication skills
Get access to a unique professional development opportunity
Receive volunteer hour verification and professional references for jobs, co-ops, med school, grad school, etc.

How are mentors and students recruited?

Mentors - COMPASS recruits mentors from all over Canada who understand their unique challenges and provide strategies to help start them on the path to a successful academic career or lifelong passion. We do this by partnering with community leaders, connecting with relevant organizations, and advertising on social media. We also encourage students who have gone through COMPASS mentorship to mentor once they have completed their studies or move onto a career.

Students - COMPASS works closely with secondary schools across Canada. Most students participate voluntarily, though some students are referred by their school for credit.

How does mentorship work?

How do mentors and students communicate?

COMPASS mentors and students converse and collaborate in both synchronous and asynchronous environments. Communication happens through messaging via private chat and the shared discussion forum. However, it can also occur through audio, video, or screen sharing technologies.

According to research, frequent communication is crucial to successful mentorship outcomes (Schineller & Rummell, 2019). COMPASS mentors are therefore expected to communicate with student(s) weekly and respond to messages within two days. It is recommended that mentors allocate 1-2 hours per week on mentorship, with a commitment of six months or more.

Private Chat

Public Discussion Forum

Other

Phone call
Video call
Video conferencing
Collaboration tools

What impact do mentors have on students?

COMPASS mentors are encouraged to lead by example and deliver information to students to support their transition to Canada while providing them with enough foresight to avoid common mistakes. This concept draws from Bandura's (1965) Social Learning Theory (SLT), which suggests that we acquire behaviours through a combination of observation and modeling (as cited in Nabavi, 2012).

Within the COMPASS context, students gain new knowledge by combining their prior experiences with new information from their mentor and the rewards and punishments those individuals received for their actions. Then, they imitate the behaviours of those individuals they respect (Nabavi, 2012). The following diagram shows the stages involved in the modeling process (adapted from Nabavi, 2012):

Figure 2.

Social Learning Theory (SLT) Modeling Process Using COMPASS

Do mentors receive training?

Yes! All COMPASS mentors must complete online mentor training before they are matched with students. This training is based on a toolkit created by the Ontario Mentoring Coalition (2016) and covers the following:

Youth mentoring best practices (i.e., how to build trust, when and how to discuss difficult topics, etc.)
Youth development principles
The immigration process
The negative impacts related to immigrating to a new country
Trauma and other mental or physical health needs that the students may experience
How to report issues and concerns
Awareness of the negative impacts of early match termination

How do I become a mentor?

Become a COMPASS mentor in 3 easy steps:

01

02

03 Ready

Set

Connect

Join the COMPASS team by filling out an online application form. This form asks you in-depth questions, so please plan to spend around 30 minutes to an hour filling it out.

We will also ask for proof of a Criminal Record Check or help you complete one online.

We are looking for mentors with diverse goals and experiences who will be able to meet the unique needs of first-generation immigrant secondary students.

If you are accepted, you must:

Complete online mentor training and take a questionnaire on your own time, and
Create a COMPASS mentor profile by sharing basic information (location, ethnic background, language preferences, hobbies & interests) to become eligible for a match.

All systems go! COMPASS will match you to a student when someone compatible becomes available.

What can I expect when I become a mentor?

COMPASS mentors are volunteers and require no prior mentoring experience. As a COMPASS mentor, you are not expected to be perfect or have all the answers — all we ask is that you be willing to share your journey by offering students guidance, support, advice, and information.

To ensure our mentors enjoy their mentorship experience, COMPASS employs the CARE method (National Mentoring Partnership, 2020):

Communication

You will receive appropriate information from COMPASS regarding any special needs the student might have, and you are encouraged to voice any issues or concerns you might have so we can work together to solve them.

Appreciation

You will receive regular acknowledgment and appreciation for your efforts.

Respect

You will be treated with respect each time you come to mentor.

Enjoyment

You will enjoy the mentoring process and look forward to being with your student thanks to frequent check-ins and ongoing support from our COMPASS management team.

More Information

Are you a university, college student, or business professional with an immigrant background interested in becoming a prospective mentor?

Contact us today to speak with a member of the COMPASS management team and receive your FREE mentor recruitment package to start you on your mentorship journey.