1. Preamble
Kalinga University recognizes mentoring as an important component of student-centric education and holistic development. The University shall implement a structured Mentor–Mentee Programme to provide students with continuous academic guidance, career support, personal development assistance, and timely institutional support.
The programme shall facilitate meaningful interaction between faculty members (Mentors) and students (Mentees) and shall support academic achievement, professional development, employability, research, innovation, and overall student well-being.
2. Purpose and Objectives
The Mentoring Programme aims to:
- Provide individual academic and career guidance to students.
- Establish regular and meaningful Mentor–Mentee interaction.
- Monitor academic performance, attendance, participation, and progress.
- Identify and support slow learners through suitable academic interventions.
- Encourage advanced learners towards research, innovation, internships, competitions, and higher education.
- Assist students in career planning, skill development, internships, placements, and entrepreneurship.
- Identify students requiring additional institutional support and facilitate appropriate referrals.
- Promote communication skills, leadership, confidence, discipline, and responsible behaviour.
3. Scope
The policy shall apply to eligible students and faculty members of all Schools/Departments and academic programmes of Kalinga University. The University may modify the implementation mechanism according to programme requirements and student strength.
4. Mentor–Mentee System
- Mentor: A faculty member designated by the Department/School to provide academic, professional, developmental, and appropriate institutional guidance to assigned students.
- Mentee: A student assigned to a designated faculty Mentor for regular guidance, academic monitoring, and developmental support.
The Department/School shall prepare and maintain a Mentor–Mentee Allocation List at the beginning of the academic session/semester. Wherever practicable, continuity of the same Mentor–Mentee relationship shall be maintained for effective follow-up.
5. Role of the Mentor
The Mentor shall:
- Maintain regular interaction with assigned Mentees.
- Monitor attendance, academic performance, internal assessments, and examination results.
- Identify academic difficulties and recommend remedial measures.
- Guide students regarding internships, training, placements, higher education, research, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
- Encourage participation in seminars, workshops, conferences, clubs, competitions, hackathons, and other institutional activities.
- Support advanced and slow learners through appropriate interventions.
- Identify students requiring additional support and refer them to the appropriate University support system.
- Maintain necessary mentoring records and submit reports as required.
- Maintain professional conduct and appropriate confidentiality regarding student information.
6. Responsibilities of the Mentee
The Mentee shall:
- Attend scheduled Mentor–Mentee meetings regularly.
- Communicate academic and developmental concerns to the Mentor.
- Act upon agreed academic and developmental guidance.
- Maintain academic discipline and satisfactory attendance.
- Participate in recommended academic, professional, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities.
- Provide accurate information required for mentoring and academic monitoring.
- Seek timely guidance whenever academic or career-related difficulties arise.
7. Mentoring Activities
The Mentor–Mentee Programme may include:
- Individual and group mentoring sessions.
- Academic progress and attendance review.
- Examination and performance analysis.
- Remedial/extra academic support.
- Career and higher education guidance.
- Internship and placement guidance.
- Research, innovation, and entrepreneurship guidance.
- Skill, communication, leadership, and personality development.
- Participation in clubs, societies, competitions, and community activities.
- Referral to counselling or other appropriate institutional support services, wherever required.
8. Frequency and Documentation
Mentor–Mentee meetings shall be conducted at least once every month, wherever practicable, with additional meetings based on student needs.
Departments/Schools shall maintain appropriate records, including:
- Mentor–Mentee allocation list.
- Student profile and academic progress.
- Meeting dates and attendance.
- Issues identified and guidance provided.
- Interventions and follow-up actions.
- Advanced/slow learner support records.
- Career/internship guidance records.
- Student feedback and periodic mentoring reports.
Digital records may be maintained through the University's approved ERP/LMS or other institutional systems.
9. Monitoring and Responsibilities
The Head of Department/Programme Coordinator/Mentoring Coordinator shall monitor the implementation of the Mentor–Mentee Programme and consolidate periodic reports.
The IQAC may review implementation, documentation, student feedback, outcomes, and good practices as part of institutional quality assurance and continuous improvement.
The effectiveness of the programme may be assessed through academic performance, attendance, student participation, internship/placement engagement, research and innovation participation, student feedback, and completion of mentoring interventions.
10. Confidentiality and Non-Discrimination
Mentoring shall be conducted in a professional, respectful, inclusive, and non-discriminatory manner. Student information shall be treated with appropriate confidentiality and used only for legitimate academic or support purposes. Matters requiring specialized assistance shall be referred to the appropriate competent authority or professional support service.
11. Review and Effective Date
This policy shall be reviewed periodically or whenever required by changes in institutional, academic, or regulatory requirements. The policy shall come into force from the date of approval by the competent authority of Kalinga University.
