The Directed Reading Program (DRP) is soliciting graduate student mentors to work with undergraduate student mentees. Leading a Directed Reading project is rewarding and requires minimal effort on your part.

Apply to be a mentor here.

Responsibilities:

• Select a project topic with your mentee
• Attend a mentor orientation meeting at the beginning of the semester
• Meet with your mentee once a week (typically for an hour)

Mentors will be provided with sample project topics, best practices for mentoring undergraduate students, and information on the program at the mentor orientation meeting.

Why be a DRP mentor?

As a mentor, you’ll…

• Gain valuable teaching/mentorship skills
• Be part of an official program you can list on your CV
• Solidify your knowledge in a subject
• Build mathematical community and inspire younger students

As compared to teaching a course or mentoring an REU research group, the DRP provides a 1-on-1 setting that gives graduate students more of an opportunity to develop certain mentoring skills. It is also a lower-stakes responsibility than either teaching or leading an REU group. 

There are many reasons an undergraduate student might prefer a graduate student mentor to a professor, or more directly benefit from the former than the latter.

Resources:

Information for Mentors
Final Presentation Guidelines
Fostering Inclusivity in a Directed Reading Program [DRP Network]