Membership Packet
B.O.S.S. B.O.S.S. PEER MENTORSHIP PROGRAM DETAILS Mission Statement Building Ourselves through Sisterhood and Service (B.O.S.S.) aims to foster healthy and genuine relationships between upperclassmen and underclassmen women of color, promote positive social interactions within the female community, encourage high academic and personal standards, provide access to helpful campus resources, and inspire community involvement and commitment to service. Program Structure: Matching Model Incoming freshmen are paired with juniors. These pairs will stay together for 2 years. Although the program understands the importance of these 2 years for growth and development, matches of sophomores and seniors can be made on a case-by-case basis. For example, a sophomore transfer student may be matched with a senior. Starting this year, we are introducing a forum for bonding before pairs are matched. At the latter half of this orientation, you will all have the opportunity to interact with other women in the program through a speed dating game. After this activity, each woman will turn in a ranking sheet of her preferences for a partner. We will use these names when considering each pairing. Through this new model, we will ensure that each woman is satisfied with her match, and that the opportunity for sisterhood and bonding is maximized. Program Requirements: Points System Mandatory events: Opening Ceremony: September 11, 2016 First Semester Brunch: September 18, 2016 Mental Health Summit: October 22, 2016 Service Event: November 2016 Second Semester Brunch: Spring 2016 Service Event: Spring 2016 Bonding Activity of your choice (email pic to Co-Coordinators) Closing Ceremony: Spring 2016 *Each of these is worth 3 points * 2 points Etiquette Brunch: Spring 2016 Sister Circles: year long Mentorship Mixer : TBA Movie night at Ithaca Mall: TBA Laser tag: TBA 1 point Attend Autumn Evening with mentor Use #bebossy with mentor/mentee on Instagram
Overall Goals Provide support for freshmen during the transition to college. Encourage undergraduate women in all years to prepare each other future mentorship and leadership roles at Cornell University and beyond. Inspire a caring and supportive environment among women of color on the Cornell campus. Promote academic excellence, engagement in community service, and positive social interactions among undergraduate women of color. Mentor/Mentee Rights & Responsibilities Each pair is responsible for: Scheduling bi-weekly meetings to discuss social and academic progress. Completing the Goal Setting contract and staying up to date on feedback and progress forms. Attending the required events including any academic, social, community service, or pre-professional events. Completing an end of the year reflection on the overall mentorship experience. As participants in the B.O.S.S. program you Have the right to request a mediation session in the event that a problem or conflict arises within a pair. These sessions will be confidential. All involved parties must submit a request in writing to the Executive Board of the Black Women s Support Network. Have the right to request a new match in the event that the arrangement is no longer ideal. The request must be submitted in writing to the Executive Board of the Black Women s Support Network. All requests will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Before a new match can be made, all involved parties must first participate in a mediation session. Measures of Effectiveness Program wide feedback surveys and questionnaires o Feedback surveys will be sent out twice each semester to evaluate the progress of each pairs. o Mentorship pairs may be rematched based on results of feedback surveys o Mentors and mentees are responsible for attending all mandatory events and keeping in touch with one another. o Failure to do so will result in removal from the program. Qualities of B.O.S.S. Mentors and Mentees Mentors should exemplify the following qualities: Reliable Accessible Honorable Relatable Encouraging Empowering Trustworthy Optimistic Enthusiastic Active Vocal Open-Minded The Executive Board of the Black Women s Support Network reserves the right to update or change any program details as necessary.
B.O.S.S. PEER MENTORSHIP PROGRAM SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES Social and Service Go to lunch/dinner in Collegetown or the Ithaca Commons Try a new café on campus (like Café Jennie at the Cornell Store!) Have a sleepover Go to a show at the Schwartz Performing Arts Center or the State Street Theater Cook a healthy meal together and try a new recipe Take a fitness/dance class Go running or take a walk and enjoy our beautiful campus Attend an a cappella concert Watch your favorite TV shows together or start a new one Catch a new movie at Cornell Cinema, Regal Cinemas, or Cinemapolis Make a goal to accomplish as many things on the list of 161 Things to Do at Cornell as possible Volunteer in the Greater Ithaca community Professional and Academic Search for internships on CCNet Walk-in to have your resumes critiqued at any College Career Services Office Have a library study session (visit Club Uris or Libe Cafe!) Discover relevant student organizations for your career interests Study at a new spot around campus (OADI, Center for Intercultural Dialogue, Read a new book together Visit Career Services to learn about FRESH or the Cornell Extern Program Visit the Learning Strategies Center or the Carol Tatkon Center These suggestions are just a starting point! We encourage you to think of other bonding activities to do with your mentor/mentee and share them with others! As you start spending time with your mentor/mentee, send any pictures to bwsn.cornell@gmail.com for our website or upload them to Instagram with the hashtag #bebossy! BWSN will repost them! BOSS Co-coordinators can be contacted at: Stephanie Carter- sac335@cornell.edu Sarah Edwards- sae72@cornell.edu
Ranking Sheet Please turn this in at the end of the speed dating activity Participant name: 1. 2. 3.