Alumni Mentors are one of the most important aspects of the Princeton Internships in Civic Service (PICS) program. Chosen from Princeton alumni, a mentor acts as a friendly contact point and source of information for the Princeton student intern, and as liaison, if needed, to the sponsor organization. The mentor’s presence and availability enhance the summer’s experience for the intern. 

Why be a PICS Alumni Mentor?  

  • Provide insight to a young Tiger entering the professional world.
  • Help shape the next generation of  leaders and thinkers. 
  • Become familiar with PICS and our wonderful community partner organizations.

Alumni Mentor Responsibilities: 

  • Initiate contact with the intern; a minimum of 3 check-ins throughout the summer is expected.  
  • Be friendly and available over the summer. 
  • Act as liaison, if necessary, to the sponsor organization of the internship.  
  • Assist the administrators of the PICS program during the internship. 

A mentor:

  • Listens empathetically. 
  • Brings a positive attitude to interactions.
  • Expresses interest in students’ aspirations and concerns. 
  • Reliably serves as a partner in learning.
  • Asks open-ended questions
  • Remains open to learning from students. They have a lot to teach us as well.

 A mentor does not: 

  • Need to be an expert in the field of the internship. 
  • Become involved in the intern’s job.
  • Act as a parent or supervisor. 
  • Press the intern for more contact than is comfortable for the intern.
  • Solve problems for the intern. They help interns find solutions for themselves. If the intern is having a bad internship experience, the intern should contact the Pace Center staff for help.

Guide to Your Summer Mentorship Experience 

Initial outreach:  

  • Reach out as soon as possible after you receive notification of your mentee.
  • Send an introductory email and offer to meet however you and the intern are most comfortable. Include your name, Princeton affiliation, preferred contact information, and times you are available to meet.
  • Find out when your student will start their internship.
  • Let your intern know if there are any dates you plan to be unavailable (e.g., a vacation).

At your first meeting...

  • For those that are located in the same geographic locations (or nearby), always meet with the intern in a public place. Do not meet with them in your home or another place which is private.
  • If you meet in person, you can offer to take them to lunch or coffee. Please do not take them someplace where they would incur costs. If you mentor more than one intern, extend the same courtesy and cost-coverage to each.
  • Ask your intern about their goals for the summer. Share any goals you have for the relationship as well.
  • Ask if your intern has any specific questions for you as you begin to get to know each other.
  • Ask what their career goals are. It is fully appropriate to ask if they would like introductions to people in your network for informational interviews over the summer.
  • If there is an active Princeton club in your area, let your intern know how to access its summer programs.
  • If your mentee is working remotely, suggest the use of TigerNet to identify regional leaders and initiate contact; Mentors could also perform TigerNet searches to see if they have any local connections to whom they could introduce their mentee.
  • Interns are on a budget. If you have suggestions for free or low-cost activities in your area, please ask if they would like the information.

We encourage you to contact the intern’s supervisor at the sponsor organization...

  • Introduce yourself to the intern’s supervisor as the PICS Alumni Mentor.
  • Explain your role as a friendly presence for the intern during the summer. 
  • Mentors have found it useful to review the host organization’s website before meeting with the intern and/or community partner to better understand the nature of the work.
  • From their supervisor, learn what will be expected of the intern and their project(s) with the organization. 

During the internship: 

  • Maintain contact with your intern. 
  • Reach out occasionally to ask how the summer is going and offer to meet virtually or in person.
  • Remember that some interns are happily independent. Others appreciate more frequent contact.  
  • Help your intern feel comfortable discussing their work environment experiences.
  • Learn early on if the intern understands the expectations of the organization, and support them in establishing a strong foundation. 

At the end of the internship: 

  • Make closing contact with your intern.
  • Offer to connect with them to reflect on their summer experience and next steps. Be aware that your intern may be very busy closing out their internship at this time.
  • Complete a confidential feedback form PICS will provide to help us maintain the quality of the PICS program. 

How can you help if your intern is encountering challenges? 

Serving as an Alumni Mentor is a rewarding experience because you have the opportunity to work with a Princeton student preparing to enter the workforce. Because students are still developing their professional skills, sometimes they need help navigating common workplace issues, and Alumni Mentors can help when they're going through this. The best things you can do to support an intern encountering challenges are: 

  • Be sure your intern knows that you are available and ready to assist them.
  • Support the intern’s own efforts to solve the problem. 
  • Serve as a sounding board as they think through possible solutions. 
  • Share your experience with similar challenges in the past. 

Keep the PICS staff informed of any serious problems. Specifically, contact us if any of the following situations arise: 

  • Harassment.
  • Non-payment of stipends.
  • Dangerous or discriminatory working conditions.
  • Any criminal situation.
  • Serious personal issues (e.g., loss of housing or serious illness).
  • Any other situation that may impact a student’s health and safety.
  • Any other situation that may impact the relationship between PICS and the host organization.

Please note that the University Volunteer Code of Conduct also applies to PICS mentors. You can find that Code of Conduct here.

The PICS staff is thrilled that you are willing to volunteer your time and expertise to support PICS students, especially during a time when many students need guidance more than ever. Please stay in touch to let us know how we can support you to have an excellent experience with PICS. 

Mentor sign-up for 2025 is now open through April 28! Please sign up via this form if you are interested in being paired with a PICS student for this summer.