Mentorship & Peer Programs resource library

The Mentorship & Peer Programs resource library holds links to a variety of resources and documents related to developing a mentoring program, defining mentoring roles, peer mentor support & training, and access & inclusion in mentorship.

Developing mentorship programs

These resources are designed for current peer mentors or for staff, faculty or students who are running or developing mentoring programs.

Start a Mentorship Program

  • Guide to Starting a Mentorship Program (PDF) is a step-by-step guide to support you in the process of constructing and implementing a new mentorship program or enhancing a program that is already in place. Although the intended audience of this resource is coordinators of peer mentorship programs at U of T, much of the resource is transferable to alumni or faculty programs as well as other post-secondary institutions.
  • Mentoring Program Template (PDF) outlines a general list of items to explore when developing your own mentoring program.
  • Designing Virtual Mentoring Programs (PDF) outlines the three key factors to review/consider when designing virtual mentoring programs.

The Four Phases of Mentorship

Mentorship is a learning relationship between two or more people, and it typically follows four phases: preparing, negotiating, enabling growth and coming to closure.

Preparing is the discovery stage of the mentoring relationship:

  • Discover your own personal motivation and readiness to be a mentor.
  • Get to know your mentee and build rapport.
  • Create a context for the learning partnership you and your mentee will build together.

Resource list:

Negotiating is the business stage of the mentoring relationship:

  • Support your mentee by helping them create learning goals.
  • Create a learning agreement with your mentee, to cover shared responsibilities and ground rules.
  • Establish boundaries with your mentee.

 Resource list:

  • Goal Setting (PDF) is a worksheet that outlines SMART goal setting and the Four M Method of Achieving Goals to assist mentors with helping mentees set goals and develop strategies to achieve them.
  • Developing a Mentoring Partnership Agreement (PDF) is an outline for mentors and mentees to work together to create a contract or learning agreement for their mentoring relationship.
  • Template: Mentoring Agreement (PDF) is a second type of mentoring agreement template that encourages mentors and mentees to discuss expectations and goals when negotiating a partnership.

Enabling is the work stage of the mentoring relationship – this is where mentors will have the most contact with their mentees:

  • Support your mentee’s learning and challenge their assumptions through one-on-one mentoring or mentor-led group work.
  • Provide useful feedback to them to help them achieve their desired learning goals.

Resource list:

Coming to closure is the reflection stage of the mentoring relationship:

  • Assess the value of your mentoring partnership.
  • Identify areas of growth and learning.
  • Celebrate learning outcomes achieved.

Resource list:

Defining mentorship roles

These resources are designed for current peer mentors, advisors or mentees who are either interested in or currently engaged in a mentoring relationship.

Developing a Mentoring Partnership Agreement (PDF) has strategies to support mentors and mentees in developing a mentoring partnership agreement focused on setting boundaries, defining expectations, and evaluating goals.

How to Be A Great Mentor (PDF) provides tools for mentors to work on enhancing their mentoring relationships.

The Mentor Handbook (PDF) breaks down the mentor role based on responsibilities, competencies, expectations, best practices and goal setting.

The Mentoring Role (PDF) is an asynchronous training that introduces participants to Mentorship and Peer Programs at the University of Toronto and the scope of a peer mentoring relationship. This training is also part of the Mentorship Foundations training offered at the university which prepares students to serve as a mentor or advisor in a peer support role.

Time Management & Organization (PDF) is a resource designed by The Centre for Learning Strategy Support that focuses on providing students with tools to better manage time and improve organizational skills.

Strategies for Graduate Mentoring & Supervision at a Distance (PDF) is a resource developed by the School of Graduate Studies and highlights a list of strategies that are helpful when mentoring graduate students.

The Mentee Handbook (PDF), designed by the Mentorship & Peer Programs team, focuses on encouraging mentees to fully benefit from the mentorship experience. The materials in this handbook are from Mentorship’s Maximizing Mentorship training program, a program specifically for mentees at the University of Toronto.

Preparing for a Mentorship Relationship (PDF) provides mentees with the necessary tools needed to prepare for a mentoring relationship including defining mentorship roles, expectations, responsibilities and setting goals.

How to Be A Great Mentee (PDF) provides tools for mentees to work on enhancing their mentoring relationships.

Mentoring Agreement Template (PDF) outlines a list of topics for mentees and mentors to discuss when creating a partnership agreement.

SMART Goals Worksheet (PDF) is a worksheet developed by the Centre for Learning Strategy Support to assist mentees with working through their goals to make them more specific, measurable, achievable, rewarded/relevant and timely.

Peer mentor support & training

These resources are designed for current peer mentors or advisors who are interested in advancing their mentorship skills through additional trainings.

  • Knowing Your Resources (PDF) is an asynchronous training that supports mentors in finding appropriate resources/referrals to meet the needs of their mentees. This training is part of the Mentorship Foundations Training offered at the University which prepares students to serve as a mentor or advisor in a peer support role.
  • Building Rapport Online (PDF) is an asynchronous training that outlines the importance of building rapport, which requires trust, in a mentoring relationship. This training is part of the Mentorship Foundations training offered at the university which prepares students to serve as a mentor or advisor in a peer support role. As a part of this training, please watch the Building Rapport Online video. The PDF showcases the details of each aspect of the training.
  • Setting Intentions in Mentoring Relationships (PDF) is an asynchronous training that outlines the importance of setting intentions, either in a partnership or in a group setting. This training is part of the Mentorship Foundations Training offered at the University which prepares students to serve as a mentor or advisor in a peer support role. As a part of this training, please watch the Boundary Awareness in Your Peer Support Relationship video. The PDF showcases the details of each aspect of the training.
  • Icebreaker Questions (PDF) offers a list of icebreakers for mentors when facilitating groups.
  • Ending a Mentoring Relationship (PDF) shares key information about the process of ending a mentoring relationship before the agreed upon end date. This resources speaks to establishing a safe exit plan (for both mentor and mentee) at the beginning of the relationship and how to do this safely and respectfully.
  • Digital Connections Toolkit is a resource developed by the University of Toronto’s Innovation Hub to help students facilitate connections online. This resource offers different online engagement tools based on interaction type, group size and platform.

Access & inclusion in mentorship

These resources are designed to support program coordinators, peer mentors or advisors and mentees who are interested in learning about the importance of access and inclusion in mentorship.