All Cornell alumni are eligible to participate in the program, particularly those who are able to share the undergraduate experience. African American, Asian American, Latino, and Native American alumni are strongly encouraged to participate. We recommend that alumni mentors be Cornellians who graduated at least two years ago. As an alumni mentor, you will be asked to serve for the entire four-year undergraduate career of the student with whom you are matched.
Students will be matched with alumni from the same geographic area. In addition to locale, other factors—such as gender, course of study, ethnicity, and career field will be considered to make a good match. Participating students and alumni will be asked to note the importance to them of race, gender, and career field in their mentor assignment. The program staff will try to match those preferences. Either person can request a new match but we encourage both to give the relationship time to mature, perhaps six months, before requesting a change.
