Thank you for agreeing to be a mentor for a College student. Our professionally-focused academic programs count on professionals such as yourself to help guide and open our students up to incredibly valuable real-world experiences. This guide was created to help you understand baseline expectations of being a mentor, and to provide specific contact information should you have any questions. Baseline Expectations of Mentorship You are being asked to work with a student in a professional setting that you are familiar with, and help them: 1) gain valuable real-world experience in an area of their choosing, and 2) help the student successfully reach a set of predefined Essential Learning Competencies, or learning goals. The student approaching you is enrolled in the course MGMT-470: Business Management Capstone which is the final course in the B.S. in Business Management degree program at College. This is their culminating academic experience and for most, their last course before graduation. We’re asking students to utilize their learning in the program and prior experiences to develop a capstone project that proves their competence in at least five of the aforementioned essential business competency areas. The Learning Contract These essential competencies are defined in a Learning Contract the student will fill out with your help. By the time the student approaches you s/he will have anywhere from 4-6 weeks to complete their fieldwork experience in-full. The final product of their fieldwork experience is a written capstone paper which will detail their experience, learning, and competence. First, the student should have approached you with an initial idea they are interested in, and that you are familiar with. This idea may be a bit vague at first but, together, you can work to hone-down the idea into an actionable plan. There are a series of steps we are asking you to take with the student over the next few weeks, and to also sign a Learning Contract with the student (which will be provided). Second, In the Learning Contract you will clearly identify the following (the Learning Contract has a pre-filled example if you need some clarity): 1. The five Essential Competencies the student wishes to focus on (the complete list and explanation of each competency will be provided to you); 2. The Learning Objectives to reach those competencies (what, specifically, the student wants [and needs] to learn); 3. The Strategies and Resources required to meet the learning objectives (how, specifically, the student will learn? What will they be doing?); 4. The Evidence to be presented as proof of their learning (how will they demonstrate that they’ve learned?); and 5. The Criteria for Evaluation and means of validating their learning (how will the student’s performance be evaluated?) Third, please know that strategies and resources really come down to identifying a set of tasks and/or actions that you (or someone you appoint) can walk the stud.

1. Thank you for agreeing to be a mentor for a College student.
Our professionally-focused academic programs count on
professionals such as yourself to help guide and open our
students up to incredibly valuable real-world experiences. This
guide was created to help you understand baseline expectations
of being a mentor, and to provide specific contact information
should you have any questions.
Baseline Expectations of Mentorship
You are being asked to work with a student in a professional
setting that you are familiar with, and help them: 1) gain
valuable real-world experience in an area of their choosing, and
2) help the student successfully reach a set of predefined
Essential Learning Competencies, or learning goals. The student
approaching you is enrolled in the course MGMT-470: Business
Management Capstone which is the final course in the B.S. in
Business Management degree program at College. This is their
culminating academic experience and for most, their last course
before graduation. We’re asking students to utilize their
learning in the program and prior experiences to develop a
capstone project that proves their competence in at least five of
the aforementioned essential business competency areas.
The Learning Contract
These essential competencies are defined in a Learning Contract
the student will fill out with your help. By the time the student
approaches you s/he will have anywhere from 4-6 weeks to
complete their fieldwork experience in-full. The final product of
their fieldwork experience is a written capstone paper which
will detail their experience, learning, and competence.

2. First, the student should have approached you with an initial
idea they are interested in, and that you are familiar with. This
idea may be a bit vague at first but, together, you can work to
hone-down the idea into an actionable plan. There are a series
of steps we are asking you to take with the student over the next
few weeks, and to also sign a Learning Contract with the
student (which will be provided).
Second, In the Learning Contract you will clearly identify the
following (the Learning Contract has a pre-filled example if you
need some clarity):
1. The five Essential Competencies the student wishes to focus
on (the complete list and explanation of each competency will
be provided to you);
2. The Learning Objectives to reach those competencies (what,
specifically, the student wants [and needs] to learn);
3. The Strategies and Resources required to meet the learning
objectives (how, specifically, the student will learn? What will
they be doing?);
4. The Evidence to be presented as proof of their learning (how
will they demonstrate that they’ve learned?); and
5. The Criteria for Evaluation and means of validating their
learning (how will the student’s performance be evaluated?)
Third, please know that strategies and resources really come
down to identifying a set of tasks and/or actions that you (or
someone you appoint) can walk the student through, assist them
in-action, and follow up with them after-action. It will be
important that the student’s actions and resulting learning is
well documented, specific, and validated on a weekly basis. The
student will have to report on their progress each week so it will
be important to follow up with them weekly during the duration
of the fieldwork experience.

3. Summary
To summarize, here is what you’ll be responsible for as this
student’s mentor:
· Work with the student to identify/hone/solidify their fieldwork
experience, and/or ask your student what he/she would like to
learn at your agency;
· Thoroughly discuss the assigned activities and skills to be
developed;
· Complete and sign the Learning Contract;
· Have the student return the Learning Contract to his/her
instructor;
· Make a copy of the Learning Contract for your files;
· Review the Learning Contract throughout the term to verify
the student’s progress. Changes to the contract can be made as
needed;
· Be sure to turn in any paperwork to the student at the end of
the term or when they terminate their fieldwork.
Contact Information
I am the student’s primary capstone advisor and MGMT-470:
Business Management Capstone professor. Feel free to reach
out to me at any time with questions or concerns.
Dr. XXX
Assistant Professor
Program Director - Business Management
College | Division of Continuing Professional Studies
Email: xxxxxxxxxx
Mobile: xxxxxx
Thank you, once again, for agreeing to be this student’s mentor.
It means a lot to us here at School, and I know it means a lot to
them...you are making a big difference in their life!

4. Cheers!
-XX
MGMT-470: Business Management Capstone
Project Proposal Form
Please fill in all the designated sections of this form completely
and thoughtfully. You should anticipate this taking 2-3 hours of
thought and writing. All sections with a * are required. This
form should be submitted as soon as possible.
Demographic | Background Information
1. Today’s Date (mm/dd/yyyy)*
2. Student’s Name (First - Last)*
3. Student’s College Email Address*
4. Student’s Preferred 10-digit Phone Number*
5. Associate’s Degree Major (if applicable)
6. Bachelor’s Degree Major*
7. Bachelor’s Concentration / Specialization*
8. Anticipated Graduation Date (mm/yyyy)*
9. Current Employer (if applicable)
10. Current Position / Title (if applicable)
11. Main Duties / Responsibilities

5. Capstone Project Track Choice*
(place an “X” in the empty box of your choice)
Track 1: Independent Learning Activity
Track 2: Employer-Sponsored, Task-Focused, Work-Based
Learning Activity
Track 3: Employer-Sponsored, Career Exploration Work-Based
Learning Activity
(Page left intentionally blank)
Track 1: Independent Learning Activity
(This section is required only if you choose Track 1:
Independent Learning Activity as your project choice. If you
have not chosen Track 1, please leave this page blank and move
to the appropriate Track of your choice)
1. PROPOSAL: Summarize your proposal activity in one short
statement (what are you proposing to accomplish?)
2. BACKGROUND: What industry/field of business is this
activity connected to? Where did you hear about it? What makes
this topic so important?

6. 3. CORE RESEARCHABLE PROBLEM OR CORE
OPPORTUNITY: What specific researchable problem, or
opportunity will you be researching, analyzing, and addressing?
4. STATEMENT OF PERSONAL INTEREST AND
JUSTIFICATION: How did you choose this activity? What
inspires you to pursue it?k How are you qualified to pursue it?
Will anyone else benefits from it (if so, how?).In addition to
answering these questions, include your personal and/or
professional goals, and include the appropriate Essential
Competencies you will cover.

7. 5. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY & PROCEDURES: What
types of data are needed to address your core problem or
opportunity? What research tools will you use to collect them?
6. RESULTS: What tangible written outcome will you have to
show at the end of the course? A thesis? A business plan? A
certification? Be explicit.

8. Track 2: Employer-Sponsored, Task-Focused, Work-Based
Learning Activity
(This section is required only if you choose Track 2. If you
have not chosen Track 2, please leave this page blank and move
to the appropriate Track of your choice)
1. RATIONALE: Please explain why you chose this specific
field experience
2. MAJOR RANKED GOALS: Include personal, professional /
career development goals. Rank them in order from most
relevant/important to least relevant/important.

9. 3. TASK & TIME: What will you be performing to achieve your
major ranked goals? Provide time estimates for each task.
4. PERSONAL | PROFESSIONAL OUTCOMES &
COMPETENCIES: What specific outcomes or tangible results
do you expect by the end of the project for your personal and
professional development? Also, choose and explain at least 5
of the Ten Essential Competencies you will be covering.
5. EMPLOYER OUTCOMES: What specific outcomes or
tangible results do you expect by the end of the project for your
employer?

10. Track 3: Employer-Sponsored, Career Exploration Work-Based
Learning Activity
(This section is required only if you choose Track 3. If you
have not chosen Track 3, please leave this page blank and move

11. to the appropriate Track of your choice)
1. INTERESTS: Please state the career goals/plans/interests
which you plan to explore during this field experience.
2. MAJOR RANKED GOALS: Include your personal,
professional / career development goals. Rank them in order
from most relevant/important to least relevant/important.
3. TASK & TIME: What will you be performing to achieve your
major ranked goals? Provide time estimates for each task.

12. 4. PERSONAL | PROFESSIONAL OUTCOMES &
COMPETENCIES: What specific outcomes or tangible results
do you expect by the end of the project for your personal and
professional development? Also, choose and explain at least 5
of the Ten Essential Competencies you will be covering.
5. EMPLOYER OUTCOMES: What specific outcomes or
tangible results do you expect by the end of the project for your
employer?

13. Reading & Resource List (all students)*
Please provide a detailed estimation of the resources and
research materials you will use to complete your capstone
project. This can include everything from the databases you
plan on using for peer-reviewed research, to the manuals you
plan on using during your fieldwork experience. Put some time
into this section and really think about what you’ll need to
accomplish your tasks. No resource is too insignificant.
· Reading List
Books, trade journals, databases, websites, industry reports,
employer orientation materials, study materials (etc.) that will
strengthen your knowledge and substantiate your capstone
project. Please provide a brief explanation of each.

14. · Resource List
People, information, time, money, equipment (etc.) that you will
need to successfully complete your capstone. Please provide a
brief explanation of each.