MSU Denver

Mission Statement

The MSU Denver Community of Mentorship Professionals and Student Scholars (COMPASS) program is committed to supporting underserved students’ academic persistence by supplementing classroom education with career readiness and development experience. We strive to expand student access and success in high demand industries.

 

About COMPASS

The Community of Mentorship Professionals and Student Scholars (COMPASS) Program connects you with industry professionals in your area of study.  

COMPASS is a one-semester long, student-driven experience where you receive individualized advice from a mentor of YOUR choosing.  

Through our program platform, you’re able to select a mentor and learn about topics such as: 

  • Resume and cover letter writing 
  • Interviewing tactics 
  • Salary negotiation 
  • Networking 
  • Conference attendance 
  • Professional development 
  • Identity consciousness in the workplace 
  • Self-advocacy 
  • Leadership development 
  • Conflict management 
  • And any other career needs you may have! 

During our program orientation, we’ll provide you guidance on how to use our platform, how to choose a mentor, and how to make the most of your time with us. Not only that, but we’ll also provide you with supplemental resources such as a mentee handbook, conversation guides, industry-specific career resources, and more!  

Interested? Discover your path by joining COMPASS.

Program Values

Business people shaking hands after successful meeting

Career and Self-Development

We’re committed to providing participants with opportunities to explore career interests, build career skills, and form a network of peers and professionals. Additionally, we seek to provide opportunities for participants to learn about oneself and others; to reflect on and define one’s needs, wants, and goals; and to strengthen one’s ability to self-advocate.  

Inclusion

We are dedicated to furthering the career and personal development of MSU Denver students. We welcome, affirm, and want to include individuals with marginalized identities, including, but not limited to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, sex, religion, and dis/ability or neurodiversity. We strongly encourage participants to be inclusive, supportive, and affirming of one another’s identities.

Silhouettes of students walking on Auraria campus.
Exterior of Jordan Student Success Buidling.

Accountability

We define accountability as accepting responsibility for one’s words, behavior, and actions toward one another and striving for respectful, honest, and ethical conduct. We understand that mentorship thrives when participants practice respect and responsibility. We also recognize the difference between intent and impact. Thus, we expect our participants to own up to their mistakes, to apologize, and to learn from their experience moving forward.

Community

We aim to build a sense of community within our program participants. We encourage participants to make meaningful connections between one another, within MSU Denver, and beyond. To support community building and community engagement, we provide a mentorship discussion group for participants to interact with one another and develop connections beyond their mentorship pairs.

Students in professional clothing talking outside.

Registration and Eligibility

COMPASS is a one-semester long program that runs during the Fall and Spring Semesters.  

Program Eligibility  

To participate in COMPASS, you must: 

  1. Be a current MSU Denver student. 
  1. Complete the COMPASS Program registration form. 

Registration Deadlines 

Fall 2022: Thursday, September 8, 2022 at noon 

Spring 2023: Thursday, February 9, 2023 at noon 


Did you miss the registration deadline? Complete our Interest Form and our staff will reach out when registration next opens or if we have an open spot for the current semester. 


Are you an employer interested in becoming a mentor?

Please contact [email protected] to designate your interest.

Benefits

As a part of COMPASS you'll get to enjoy:

  • Support in your career journey
  • A variety of personal and professional development opportunities 
  • A dedicated professional mentor to provide individualized career support 
  • Access to special career readiness resources 
  • Connections with professionals and peers in your area of study through a virtual mentorship discussion group 
  • *100 stipend awarded at the conclusion of the program

*Note: Stipend awards are contingent on completion of a set of engagement requirements.

About the Mentors

Tivoli and Downtown Denver

COMPASS mentors are MSU Denver alumni and industry professionals whose employers are partnered with the Classroom to Career Hub (C2 Hub). Our mentors have a desire to guide, motivate, and support your personal, academic, and professional development.  

As COMPASS participants, we will prepare our mentors to be attentive, supportive, and affirming of our students’ unique needs, goals, and identities. While our mentors are not experts in all areas, we expect them to work in collaboration with C2 Hub staff to ensure your career needs are met. 

Spring 2022 Mentor Testimonials: 

“Mentorship is an opportunity to share knowledge, experience and appreciation with another individual. It is a mutual experience and that is exactly what COMPASS did. I enjoyed my time with my mentee; learning about [their] hobbies, passions, and hopes for the future.” 

“As an MSU Denver Alumni, it was exciting to give back to the students. The program was a nice experience… Looking forward to the next semester!” 

“It was a great way to get involved, not only with MSU Denver students, but with my colleagues. I actually met a couple people I had never had a chance to connect with before this opportunity.” 

Are you an employer interested in becoming a mentor? 

Please contact [email protected] to designate your interest.  

FAQs

Questions?

Contact Us at [email protected]

Eunice Reyes (she/her)

Equity and Career Success Coordinator

Student/Mentee Contact

Email: [email protected]

Schedule a Meeting

 

Eboni Nash (she/her)

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Program Recruitment Manager

Employer/Mentor Contact

Email: [email protected]