This year the College of Communication will target its third-year students with a new mentoring program.

The new program is designed to focus on the individual needs of students during their career search. Students are paired with alumni who will act as personal advisors or mentors for the entire school year.

The mentors are all volunteers who live and work in the Milwaukee area, according to Katy Flierl, College of Communication Advancement Officer and one of the staff members who oversees the mentoring program.

"They love getting connected with the students and are very eager to help out in the College," Flierl said.

Discussions to establish this program began in February, when College of Communication Dean William Elliott gathered faculty members, administrators and members of the college's board of alumni to brainstorm new ways to assist students' development. Many of the ideas for the mentoring program are based on a similar program that the College of Business Administration created about five years ago.

Besides Flierl, College of Communication internship coordinator Sheena Carey and Marc Whitney, director of the Alumni Association Board, oversee the mentoring program.

To enroll in the program, there is an official application process to help pair students with alumni and an interview. Though this semester's due date for applications has passed, the college is putting together a waiting list for next semester.

Once accepted, students attend an orientation session. They will meet with their mentors monthly for at least one hour.

Since the program focuses on helping students individually, activities do not have a specific structure. Students and mentors can discuss topics like resume writing or interview skills, but the main idea is to form a relationship so the mentors may advise the students as they plan their careers. A wrap-up session will take place in spring to close the year.

In addition to helping students gain valuable contacts in their fields, another goal of the program is to help students "realize the extreme importance of internships and networking skills" said Carey.

After serving as a mentor at the Wisconsin Business Initiative Corporation, Carey knows first hand what it's like to see an advised student succeed. "It's so fascinating to see your students realize their dreams," she said.

Those who have signed on as mentors feel the same way and say they are very enthusiastic about guiding students through this important process.

"The alumni are very excited about this program," Whitney said. "They can see its value from a student's perspective since they once went through the same job-search process."

Whitney said this common bond would allow alumni to relate to students' worries and help them through their career searches.