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Industry Mentoring Links Are Becoming Mutually Beneficial |
| Lia Steakley, Debra K. Rubin | 10.29.2007 | Engineering | Coaching and Leading |
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 ENR (10/29/07) Vol. 259, p. 34
The mentoring of students by engineering industry employees is a critical factor in student success, as schools are learning. Washington Group International\'s College Connections program sends senior-level workers back to the schools they graduated from or to nearby colleges to partner with academic institutions and their human resources for the benefit of students. \"Active corporate participation with our students is a critical part of their preparation for success,\" says Texas A&M Foundation development director Matt Jennings. \"By showing them how classroom education translates to success in the real world, they become much more prepared once they graduate.\" High-school students are also being given the opportunity to find mentors through the ACE Mentor Program and similar organizations. The success of such programs is encouraging companies to expand their mentoring initiatives. \"Mentoring programs really allow you to develop a closer personal relationship with students because there is a continuity and that\'s just not possible with an occasional classroom visit or internship,\" notes Turner Construction executive John Pierce. \"In many cases, high school and college students don\'t get a lot of assistance from either a guidance counselor or career services center. So we really make an effort to reach down into the ranks and get students to focus on a professional track sooner rather than later.\" |
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