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E-PRIDE connects NIU engineering alumni, students

December 14, 2014

E-PRIDEJust in time for the spring semester, the Northern Illinois University College of Engineering and Engineering Technology launched E-PRIDE, a program that connects NIU students with alumni mentors.

E-PRIDE—which stands for Engineering-Placement, Retention, Internship, Diversity and Engagement—facilitates these relationships by pairing junior- and senior-level students with alumni and corporate partners through mentoring opportunities, internships career planning and other support as students prepare to enter the field. The goal of the program is to provide NIU students with insights, advice and experience in preparing for their professional career.

While a typical mentoring opportunity will involve a minor investment of time, it can have a major impact on a student mentee.  A corporate/alumni mentorship provides students at least one face-to-face meeting during a semester in addition to brief monthly communications with the student mentee, either in person, by phone or by e-mail.  Technology such as Skype or Face Time is also a great way to communicate.

All corporate and alumni mentors are accepted and will be guaranteed a mentee.

NIU is ranked No. 41 in the nation

NIU is ranked No. 41 in the nation

The role of the E-PRIDE mentor is as follows:

  • Lend advice and information to the student regarding career success;
  • Motivate the student to overcome the challenges of an engineering education;
  • Facilitate the pairing of an internship opportunity for the student; and
  • Nurture students towards personal growth and workplace preparedness.

Alumni and friends of the college are asked to participate in this unique opportunity by completing the corporate mentor application on the CEET website.

For more information on matching with a student, please contact Barbara Lauger via email or at 815-753-2256.