Dear A & S Faculty Member,

These pages describe a relatively new group on campus, the College Society, and a offer a forum for participation in the Society’s mentoring program. I would ask that you take the time to learn about the College Society and its larger goals. I want to take this opportunity to describe the Society’s mentoring program, and to encourage your participation in it. 

As noted in the homepage's description of the College Society, the mentoring program will be a central part of the Society’s activities. Individual faculty members will be asked to nominate outstanding sophomore students for membership in the Society. In general terms, the potential for graduate study should be the main factor in determining nominees. [See the application form for details.] Following completion of the nominating form by both student nominee and faculty mentor, it should be submitted to the Society Council. 

The deadline for submission of both the student and mentor portions (to be turned in together) is September 9. They should be sent to Fred Shepherd, at the Department of History and Political Science. Selections will be made within a week of the deadline. 

The Society is intended to foster preparation for, and excellence in, graduate school, narrowly defined. It is not intended for students planning to attend professional schools, in areas such as law, medicine, and business. 

The initial nomination process will require some work on the part of the potential mentor: see the attached form for details. But the larger goal of the College Society is to provide College-wide support for the kind of (extremely effective) mentoring that is already taking place. The Council, while welcoming mentor participation in College Society activities, does not foresee a new set of demands being placed on mentors. Rather, the Society will provide resources that may, in fact, make the mentor’s job easier. These resources should, in turn, increase the chance of success for students as they prepare for graduate school.

Please feel free to contact me or any of the Council members with questions about the work of the College Society. Again, we encourage you to take part in the mentor program, and to push students to take advantage of a new and extremely useful Campus resource.

Sincerely yours,

Fred Shepherd