LGBTQ+ Mentorship Program

Mentees are encouraged to utilize the LGBTQ+ Mentorship Program, peer mentors, and alumni mentors to build an affirming community, ask questions that helps them navigate the institution, career fields, as well as the society at large. 

The program aims to support LGBTQ+ students at the University of Oklahoma by:

•  Fostering a sense of community among LGBTQ+ students at the University of Oklahoma

•  Connecting LGBTQ+ students with resources on campus and around Norman 

•  Providing guidance and mentorship to LGBTQ+ first-year and transfer students

For more information, please take a look at our guidebook below.

LEARN MORE

WE ONLY ACCEPT MENTEE APPLICATIONS AT THIS POINT.

APPLY HERE

Or apply at the form below.

Participants can interact with the program in one of three ways:

• Mentees (students seeking mentorship) Available for all students. If you are a first-year or transfer student, you must be a mentee.
• Peer Mentors (students seeking to mentor other students) Available for sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduate students.
• Faculty, Staff, and Alumni Mentors (other community members looking to mentor students) Available for faculty, staff, and alumni.

 Participants will be sorted into Mentorship Pods, in which 2-3 student mentors and a small group of student mentees will be paired together, as well as 1-2 Faculty, Staff, and Alumni Mentors. Numbers may vary depending on the number of people participating in the program. This format helps mentorship groups form better connections, and alleviates some challenges with a 1-on-1 pairing.

    Mentees

Students seeking mentorship, either from other students, or faculty/staff/alumni. Mentees are signing up to be grouped with a few other mentees and mentors, giving them a small group to ask questions to, attend events with, and generally form a community with as you navigate the academic year. When applying, mentees give some background information about their identity, professional interests, hobbies, etc, for the Mentorship program to use to pair them with folks with similar experiences and interests in a pod with other mentees and mentors.

Throughout the program, there will be a variety of events for pods to attend - from fun social events to more educational or informational workshops and panels. Students are also encouraged to engage with their pod outside of mentorship-specific events and get to know their fellow mentors and mentees for the best experience in the program.

    Peer Mentors

Students seeking to mentor other students. Peer Mentors are can act as mentors for other students, while also being mentees with faculty/staff/alumni within the program. Peer Mentors are assigned to pods with a few mentees, to help reduce challenges with a 1-on-1 mentorship interaction.

Throughout the program, there will be a variety of events for pods to attend, from fun social events to more educational or informational workshops and panels. Students are also encouraged to engage with their pod outside of mentorship-specific events, and mentors are especially encouraged to get to know their mentees and facilitate their pods attending events for the best experience in the program.

    Faculty/Staff/Alumni (FSA) Mentors

While Peer Mentors can serve as resources for their mentees to better navigate OU, Faculty/Staff/Alumni Mentors are the experts within their fields and can provide resources for students beyond their journey at OU. Our program is all about connection and growth, and our Faculty, Staff, and Alumni have unique perspectives that our students are seeking out!

We will be sharing our event calendar with all of our FSA mentors, and would love to welcome you into any and all of our mentorship spaces! If you are Faculty, Staff, or local alumni who want to get coffee or a meal with students on campus, the program is happy to assist. Please contact the LGBTQ+ Program Coordinator for further inquiry.