iMentor’s post-secondary program pushes pair communication beyond the platform, leaning instead on a "text campaign" containing timely reminders and resources, “discussion guides” shared with mentors to support their work with their mentees, and “monthly newsletters” sharing timely reminders and resources. Ongoing communication is still integral to strength of post-secondary match, and the conversations app remains available to PSP pairs.
Text Campaign
The spreadsheet linked here contains a full outline of mentor and mentee facing text messages, differentiated by time of year and pathway. These messages are meant to be sent from the Post-Secondary Program staff member to mentors and mentees using a mass-texting software, and are a way for program staff to have regular contact with participants and carry out informal data collection.
Nudging by Text - Best Practices - This resource, created by SignalVine, has guidance on how to best use texting nudges to achieve desired outcomes.
Discussion Guides
iMentor's post-secondary discussion guides, linked here on the Mentor Learning Center, will support mentors in helping their mentee get on track to enroll in, persist through, and graduate from a college program or alternate pathway through their first year out of high school.
For your use, discussion guides labeled for the class of 2020 are written for mentors supporting students in their first year after high school.
Non-College Pathway-Specific Mentor Facing Resources
Persistence Checklists - These checklists outline the benchmark tasks required of students, differentiated by pathway. Can be useful in advising, but can also be used to share with mentors or review at events.
Fast Fact Documents – Alternate Pathways - These documents provide an overview of each non-college post-secondary pathway supported by iMentor’s Post-secondary Program. Mentors are likely most familiar with a college post-secondary pathway. These resources will give them a baseline understanding of what their mentee may need to pursue other pathways successfully.
Newsletters
PSP4P Newsletters include timely resources, mentoring guidance, and options for mentors and mentees to get further support. These are used in concert with the texting content to make sure mentors and mentees have timely resources and are kept abreast of the additional supports available to them.
iMentor’s newsletters are sent using “Campaign Monitor,” and the content of these newsletters is region-specific. The examples below are meant as models and are not easily adapted directly into a usable newsletter for partners. Topics for newsletters can be pulled from the advising scripts and sources like NCAN (National College Attainment Network). Content for newsletters can also be pulled from the texting scope and sequence, and from regional resources curated by your post-secondary team. Connecting with counseling team members at popular universities for your students, or advising staff for popular certification programs can also aid in the collection of relevant resources.
Below, you can find links to a NYC PSP sample newsletter from each month of the program year, as well as recommended topics to include in your own. For months without links, content will be added and updated throughout the year.
| Month + Link to Model | Suggested Topics |
| July | Welcome to the program, registering for program orientation, college enrollment tasks, mentor relationship reflection, resources for scholarships, local events, and job opportunities. |
| August | Buying textbooks, “making a plan” resources for undecided students, resources for scholarships, local events, and job opportunities, academic calendar reminder |
| September | Campus resources overview, understanding a syllabus, gap year opportunities, job search resources, resources for scholarships, local events, and job opportunities |
| October | Mental health resources, study tips for exams, job fair resources, professional skill development opportunities, FAFSA completion resources, resources for scholarships, local events, and job opportunities |
| November | Major selection resources, study plan resources, local internship opportuntiies, AmeriCorps application, FAFSA completion resources, volunteering opportunities, outing opportunities for pairs |
| December | Finals study and mental health tips, advising session scheduling reminder, internship opportunities, transfer support resources, resources for scholarships, local events, and job opportunities |
| January | Goal-setting resources, advising session scheduling reminder, local internship resources, resources for scholarships, local events, and job opportunities |
| February | Career research resource, local vocational training resource, black history month celebration, resume and cover letter resources, resources for scholarships, local events, and job opportunities |
| March | How to talk to professors about grades, summer opportunities, local vocational training opportunities, resources for scholarships, local events, and job opportunities |
| April | Talking to mentors about grades, making the most of summer, local employment opportunities, resources for scholarships, local events, and job opportunities |
| May | Finals support resources, summer melt resources, final reminder for FAFSA completion, resources for scholarships, local events, and job opportunities |
| June | Local summer opportunities, budgeting skills resource, mentor communication reminder, last call for FAFSA completion, resources for scholarships, local events, and job opportunities |
