Mission and Purpose
The Navigators Scholarship Mentor Program provides experiences and resources to navigate college, cultivate community, and create social change leaders. Students will hold monthly one-on-one mentorship meetings, build on existing skills and passions, receive support and resources, and connect with a community. This program is sponsored by CSUN Student Government to fund the annual participant scholarships.
Students are able to develop their leadership skills through hosted events and mentor check-ins, build their knowledge of related theories and models, and earn a $1000 scholarship ($500 per semester pending the successful completion of all requirements). Changemakers will also build and lead an educational service session at the Serve and Lead MiniCon in spring semester.
Qualifications
- 1st & 2nd year, or transfer students enrolled in at least 6 credits
- 2.5 GPA
- Social justice interest and/or experience
- Attend required events: orientations (Sept and Jan), monthly 1:1s with mentor/mentee, three to four events per semester
- For Changemaker mentees: Interest in planning and leading a 60-90 minutes educational service session as part of the Serve and Lead MiniCon in April of spring semester; weekly spring 1:1s to be building the session logistic, tools and outline.
- 3rd or 4th year students (60+ college credits or graduate students with leadership experience) enrolled in at least 6 credits
- 2.5 GPA
- Social justice interest and/or experience working with social change work
- Attend required events: orientations (Sept and Jan), monthly 1:1s with mentees, weekly 1:1s with Navigators program staff
- Ability to: manage workflow, set and hold constructive mentorship 1:1 meetings, keep detailed notes in provided documents; communicate regularly with Navigators program staff & mentees
- Note-- for Changemaker mentors in spring semester: Must be able to hold weekly 1:1s with mentees to support mentees building their session and coordinate the logistics, tools and outlines (can be a group meeting or 30-minute 1:1 meetings).
In 2025-26, we are launching two tracks (there will be mentors and mentees for both tracks):
- Certificate- attend service, leadership, diversity, and civic engagement events; connect learning from events to the theories/frameworks introduced by Navigators; engage in the mentee/mentor relationship
- Changemaker- attend service events; connect learning from events to the theories/frameworks introduced by Navigators; plan and lead an educational service session as part of the April Serve and Lead MiniCon; engage in the mentee/mentor relationship
You can get more information about the tracks in the application or above in the Qualifications section
Roles and Responsibilities
- Is a current student with less than 60 college credit with social justice interest/experience
- Attends monthly check-ins with mentors
- Utilizes resources and attend events
- Works to create a thoughtful reflection and/or innovative final social justice reflection (Certificate) OR educational service session as part of the Serve and Lead MiniCon (Changemakers)
- Holds 60+ college credits or graduate students with leadership experience
- Contributes 3-4 hours weekly
- Maintains regular contact with mentees and mentor advisor via 1:1s and email; reporting to Navigators Program Manager(s)
- Has previous mentoring experience or mentor program participation, event planning, or social justice experience
- Assists in leading, planning, marketing and/or facilitating one optional social event for Navigators per month with Navigators program staff support
- Provides mentor training and professional development via weekly 1:1 mentor supervision
- Shares resources and communication between Service Learning and Leadership and Navigators
- Recruits Navigators, tracks progress, submits roster for disbursement and tracks accountability for CSUN sponsorship
- Ensures accountability of all members of the program
More Information Contact
Changemakers track-
Leanne Soter
Program Coordinator
leanne.soter@unlv.edu
Certificate track-
Karly Van Holten
Program Coordinator
karly.vanholten@unlv.edu
Stine Odegard
Assistant Director for Service
stine.odegard@unlv.edu