충북대학교신문방송사

The Students Tell about Mentoring Programs

Recently, the necessity of mentoring programs in universities has been an issue as students have many problems adapting to universities and employment. Many universities, such as Seoul National University, Sookmyung Women’s University, Chonbuk National University, are running mentoring programs, and Chungbuk National University (CBNU) started the CBNU Lifelong Mentoring System this year. However, it is different from the mentoring program which students have asked for. The CBT talked with CBNU students about mentors.

“I need mentors”

After entering universities, many students can’t find their aims, so they wander. All teenagers have to do is just to follow their class teachers, but twenty-somethings have many difficulties due to the absence of advisers when they enter universities. Yeon Hye-jin(Dept. of International Business,’09) said, “When students enter universities, they are free because nobody controls them. Therefore, they have to make decisions by themselves. Twenty-somethings have to behave in a mature way, but they are wandering. After I entered university, I also wandered because I didn’t know the way to study. If I had had a mentor, I would have known what I had to do.”

“I don’t like nominal mentoring systems”

CBNU has implemented the CBNU Lifelong Mentoring System for students and face-to-face counseling with professors. The university ran the mentoring programs for students, but they are dissatisfied with the program. Students said that the program is compulsory. In fact, some colleges don’t allow students to graduate if they don’t have an interview with their professors once a semester. Students have to have a compulsory interview. Students are expressing their complaints because they are consulting with professors whom they don’t know. The university appoints advisers to students at random. When they meet professors, students feel awkward and uncomfortable because they are strangers. Thus, students are saying that they can’t open their hearts to their professors. After consulting with appointed professors, most students evaluated that it was very cursory.

Hwang Moon-young(Dept. of Architectural Engineering,’10) said, “I think that professors consult with students nominally. It seems that they think it is just for a kind of work. One professor counseled with many students at once, so it was hard to talk about my private episodes.”

Yeon Hye-jin(Dept. of International Business,’09) said, “I want to consult with professors, but they are very busy. Every time I visited the professors, they were out of the office.”

Heo Min-ji(Dept. of Korean Language and Literature,’10) said, “If I consult with a professor whose inclination is different from mine, it will be a big problem. When I don’t have something wrong and meet my professor, I’m embarrassed due to having no questions. I feel uncomfortable because I only meet the professor when I have a consultation.”

“We want mentors who give useful advice”

Students want to meet mentors who can suggest the right way to solve problems. Students need mentoring systems which give useful advice rather than the nominal talk. Students think that they need lots of attention from mentors. They also want familiar mentors like their friends. Students need a person not only who can give effective help but also with whom they can depend on.

Hwang Moon-young, a student of Dept. of Architectural Engineering,’10, said “I want mentors with whom I can really open up to. Furthermore, I hope that the mentors can offer practical advice to me.”

Students in their twenties think that there are no real mentors around them, and they aren’t satisfied with the current mentoring systems. Students want their mentors to sympathize with them and lead them to the right path. In the future, schools should introduce improved mentoring systems which create a friendly atmosphere between students and mentors and actually help students.

By Kim Seon-yeong

ksy31@cbnu.ac.kr

Stories of Professors as Mentors

Park Bum-hyeok(Dept. of Child Welfare) Lee Jong-yeun(Dept. of Education)

Kim Nak-choon(Dept. Architectural Engineering)

According to ‘The Analysis of Curriculum of Korean University Students’ which was researched by the Korean Educational Development Institute, only 25.5% of 2,019 students from four-year universities responded that they had interacted with professors about their future careers. Also, the number of students who interacted with professors about other topics was lower.

The results are contrary to the rapidly increasing number of mentor programs in many universities. The interactions between professors, who should play roles as mentors, and students who want mentors are almost negligible. CBT met 3 professors who are known as popular mentors and talked about this problem.

Come to the office after making an appointment

Many students said that the professors are close, but they seem distant. The professors and students are in the same university space, but the students feel difficulty even when they knock on the professors’ doors. Many students have probably experienced going to professors’ offices that were empty or finding professors who were so busy that they didn’t have enough time to talk with students.

Concerning this situation, Professor Park Bum-hyeok said, “There are many students who want to depend on me. I always feel regret when I can’t take care of students enough. I can’t give proper counsel when I’m absorbed in research. I hope that students make an appointment before the students come to my office.”

Professor Lee Jong-yeun said, “Many students feel uncomfortable with professors. The professors, however, consider it natural to counsel with students. Actually, the professors are concerned with each student. If the students make an appointment before visiting, many professors will welcome the students even though they are busy.”

The professors as mentors

Some students want seniors and friends as their mentors even though students know that they are not that helpful. The reason is that while their peers understand each other well, the professors are difficult to talk to. Many people, however, usually want someone as a mentor who has broad experiences.

Professor Lee said, “It is unusual that a peer is helpful as a mentor. According to research, mentees usually receive assistance in three fields: career, studying and daily life. In these fields, professors are more helpful than peers.” Also, she said, ”The professors are experts. The students can receive professional assistance about careers and studies and can ask advice about their daily lives.” Professor Kim Nak-choon said that he learned a lot through the relationships with students. “I teach the students and also learn from students. We can teach and learn through communication between professors and students. I think meeting students is a good fortune.” Professor Park said, “Many university students often don’t talk about their concerns. They try to solve the problem alone if they can. If they talk with professors, however, they can find other ways to solve the problem and learn different ways. The professors can help the students as seniors in lives."

Dear students

The three professors hope that students will have more initiative. They said it is important that the students make efforts to receive assistance. Professor Park said, "Actually, the concerns of twenty-somethings can be solved easily. If anyone gives some help to them, the twenty-somethings can solve their concerns. However, it is difficult to solve the problems on their own. Approach anyone first to receive assistance. Don't be scared of visiting professors. That is sincere advice and a humane comment for students." Professor Kim said, "Develop ways of expressing yourself. If the students try to express themselves, they can give more assistance. Many students are not trained to speak. Have courage to lead the conversation." Professor Lee said, "If students want to achieve their dreams, they have to make efforts on their own. Today, there are a lot of institutes and professors to help students. Successful people met lots of mentors. If students try to find mentors, they can meet great mentors and receive assistance."

Many students feel difficulty talking with professors. However, the professors are concerned about the students, and they will welcome them unless the students visit unexpectedly. When the students have concerns or want to receive advice, approach professors without hesitation. They will be great mentors.

By Kim Yu-jin

yj30@cbnu.ac.kr