Tri-Mentoring Program
About the program
Launched in 2001, the award-winning UBC Computer Science Tri-Mentoring program is currently the largest mentoring program in the Faculty of Science. The tri-level structure forms a triad of an industry or faculty mentor, with a 3rd or 4th year student as senior mentee and a 2nd year student as junior mentee. Student mentees connect with industry and faculty mentors to learn from mentors’ life experience, explore career options, receive career advice and sharpen their job search skills. Student mentees connect between themselves to share their academic and career experience.
The Matching Process
We take great care to match our industry mentor and student mentees, aiming for a rich experience for all parties.
We consider multiple factors when matching up triad, including:
- interest areas in Computer Science
- career interest areas
- student program and year of study, and total number of Computer Science courses completed to date
- previous Tri-Mentoring experience
- relative age of mentor, senior and junior student
- common hobbies and interests
Program Activities
The Tri-Mentoring Program offers both program-level activities as well as individual triad-level activities.
Program meetings can be in-person or online. We have a Kickoff meeting in September to start each academic year, and a Wrap-up celebration in April to conclude the program. Throughout the year, we have a variety of activities which may include, but are not limited to, industry panels, symposiums, networking events, resume review clinic, interview preparation sessions.
Individual triad meetings can be informational interviews, resume critique, interview practice, side project advisement, office tour, attending industry events together etc. Students should meet with the industry mentors at least once per month, whether in-person or online. At these meetings students share their career goals, seek clarification and new ideas about career opportunities, and get their mentor’s insights and opinions regarding career questions. Students actively seek ways to be of benefit to their mentor during these meetings as well. The junior and senior students can also meet as a pair to share more about their academic experience and journey through the Computer Science degree.
Who can Participate
Current UBC Computer Science or Data Science major students in the BSc, BA, BCom, BCS degree programs will receive an email in June/July each year to invite them to apply to the program. BCS students will receive the application invitation in August. Students who are out-of-town on academic exchange or on a co-op work term are welcomed.
All participants are expected to set aside 25-35 hours throughout the academic year to prepare for and participate in the various activities.
Questions or concerns? Contact us at trimentoring@cs.ubc.ca.
