ACCESS Mentors

Welcome to Rhodes College, ACCESS MENTORS: You Belong Here!

Mission: Our mission is to support Rhodes College students in overcoming educational barriers through mentorship, academic support, and career guidance.

Vision: To create a supportive and inclusive community where every student can achieve their full potential.

Program Description: A.C.C.E.S.S. Mentors provides comprehensive support for students navigating educational access and achievement challenges throughout their four years at Rhodes College. We foster a welcoming and respectful environment by offering peer and alumni mentoring, encouraging academic success, supporting personal growth, and promoting pathways to career and graduate school readiness.

Program Pillar:

• Belonging & Emotional Support: Ensures students feel emotionally supported and understood during their transition into college life.
• Identity Affirmation & Representation: Highlights the importance of mentors who understand and reflect mentees' backgrounds, especially for students of color and first-generation college students.
• Reciprocity & Giving Back: Encourages students to support others as they were supported, fostering a cycle of empowerment and shared responsibility.
• Transition Support & Navigation: Provides practical tools, advice, and direction to help new students adjust and succeed at Rhodes College.
• Connection & Community-Building: Focuses on building meaningful relationships to strengthen campus culture and create an inclusive community.
• Leadership & Personal Growth: Develops confident, empathetic, and community-minded leaders through mentorship, fostering self-awareness and communication skills.

Core Events & Programming Themes

• Fall Retreat (Welcoming Environment / Personal Development)
• Spring Conference (Career Readiness / Engagement)
• Mosaic Pinning Ceremony (Celebration & Community)
• Peer Mentoring (Access & Support)
• MLK Week Service Event (Community Engagement)
• Monthly Third Tuesday Events (Community and Belonging)