Mentoring a Student at Denver Seminary
So You’ve Been Asked to Be a Mentor
What an honor to be asked to serve as a mentor! It’s humbling and challenging. Regardless of previous mentoring experience, the request can make you keenly aware of your own growth needs. However, to be asked to serve as a mentor generally indicates that another person has seen something of value in your life. As you consider the request, we thought you might be helped by a brief overview of the Denver Seminary mentoring process and what it would involve for you.
We take your ministry as a mentor very seriously and
want to keep you well-equipped and well-supported.
Q: What will I need to know before mentoring a Denver Seminary student?
Mentors of Denver Seminary students will need to attend an initial, one-time mentor orientation module. This takes 2 hours, and we offer these modules at a variety of days and times at the beginning of each semester. We also offer an online option for those who are unable to attend an on-campus module. Mentors must also agree to support students in their commitment to the National Association of Evangelicals statement of faith and agree to abide by the Code of Ethics and Policies and Procedures of the mentoring program. Those documents are available upon request and at the mentor orientation module.
Q: What is the time investment required of me?
As a mentor, you will need to be available for a total of 15 hours of regularly scheduled meeting times (approximately one hour per week) during each semester you are mentoring a student. For M.A. students the commitment is 3 semesters and for M.Div. students it is 5. Mentors are encouraged to stay with their students throughout the duration of the process, unless there is a reason to change.
You will also be asked to attend a one-hour Mentor Team Meeting every other semester during the student's program. In this meeting you will meet the entire “team” of mentors involved in your student’s learning goals: the Mentoring Director, Faculty Mentor (also known as the Formation Group Leader), and any other external mentors the student has.
Q: Anything else?
The mentoring experience for students involves custom-designed, self-directed learning plans that focus on key areas of character, spiritual maturity and ministry skill. Feedback is very important to every student’s progress. You will be asked to complete a one page (front and back) evaluation form at the close of each semester. It will ask you about the student’s engagement of the mentoring relationship, progress on their learning plan(s), and will allow you to offer suggestions toward future learning goals.
Q: If I have more questions along the way, who do I ask for help?Will I have support?
Each student is assigned to a Mentoring Director. Mentoring Directors are available to answer questions, direct you to helpful resources, etc. You will meet your student’s Mentoring Director at your first Mentor Team Meeting. You are welcome to contact them any time before that as well.
Q: I’ve heard I can get a Library card if I mentor a student…
We offer “mentor appreciation benefits” such as a free Seminary library card, and the opportunity to audit a limited number of master’s level courses for a minimal administrative fee. We hope that these will provide valuable resources for your life and ministry, as well as communicate our gratitude for your ministry with us.
