CORE Mentorship Program
About CORE Programs at U of G
CORE (Creating Opportunities for Racial Equity) programs at U of G include the CORE Peer Program for new undergraduate students and the CORE Mentorship Program for upper-year undergraduate students.
About the CORE Mentorship Program
The CORE (Creating Opportunities for Racial Equity) Mentorship Program is a mentorship program for Black and racialized undergraduate students at the University of Guelph. CORE pairs upper-year (second year and above) Black and racialized students with a Black or racialized professional, staff or faculty in an area of the student’s interest to support the student with building meaningful connections, developing a strong social and professional network, and establishing a community on campus and in Guelph broadly.
By participating in the CORE Mentorship Program, you will
- Get connected to professionals who can guide you in navigating challenges and barriers you might experience in either school or the workplace. Mentoring relationships established through the CORE Mentorship Program are intended to support academic success, career preparation and retention, social engagement, networking, and more!
- Have the opportunity to attend monthly workshops and events that are specifically designed to build social networks and transferable skills. These include career-building seminars, academic information sessions, and discussions on navigating identity-based experiences in the workplace.
- Be part of a community that understands your experiences as a Black or racialized individual, and supports you in identifying and achieving your personal and professional goals. Through the CORE Mentorship Program, you will be connected with fellow Black and racialized U of G students, as well as Black and racialized professionals across various disciplines who can help guide you in your academic, professional, and personal journeys.
- CORE Professional Development Workshops have included "Leadership in the Workplace" with LANG, "Networking and Branding" with RBC on Campus, and "Wellbeing in the Workplace" with the Wellness and Education Promotion Centre.
To be eligible as a mentee for the CORE Mentorship Program, you must:
- Be a U of G undergraduate student in second-year or above
- Identify as Black or racialized
- Be 18 years of age or above
Mentor participation in the program requires the following:
- 3+ years of experience and expertise in their field of study and/or work
- Willingness to provide active listening and guidance, and aid students in their personal and professional development
- Availability to meet (virtually) with your mentee at least twice per month between Sep 2026 and Apr 2027
- Self-identification as a Black or otherwise racialized individual
If you have any questions, please contact cultural.diversity@uoguelph.ca.
Join the CORE Mentorship Program as a Mentee
Registration for the F26/W27 CORE Mentorship Program is now open for mentees! If you are a Black or racialized upper-year undergraduate student interested in building meaningful connections, developing professionally, and receiving mentorship support throughout the academic year, we encourage you to apply.
Join the CORE Mentorship Program as a Mentor
We are looking for dedicated mentors with a desire to connect with, develop, and support a student from the University of Guelph. If you are a Black or racialized professional interested in being a mentor, this volunteer position is for you! Mentor registration for 2026-27 is now open.
Hear from our past participants!
"The CORE mentorship program has really helped me a lot both academically and in my personal life. It gave me the guidance on academics and career paths that I had been looking for and the conversations I had were inspiring and empowering. I truly believe the connection I made will last a lifetime." – Bio-Medical Science student, 3rd year
“This was my first time in a formal mentorship role and while I appreciated the opportunity to share my knowledge and experiences to support my mentee, I also found the experience to be quite reflective for me. There were a lot of parallels between mine and my mentee's experiences (it was a great match!) and in some ways it felt like I was speaking to and giving advice to my younger self. It was very healing and prompted me to think about how I've grown in my personal journey, as well as where I can continue to develop and improve.” – Core Mentor
"My mentor is great! We really connected and clicked! She's given me a lot of advice and connected me to a lot of resources and people. She given me a safe space to talk about issues that I can't normally talk to someone who is not [Black and racialized]. I feel like this mentorship will continue beyond this program” – Bio-Medical Science student, 3rd year
"My main goal for joining this program was to expand my networking skills. Not only did she help me achieve that but she also guided me in various aspects. I can confidently say that I am now proficient at networking and have the necessary tools for success.” – Biochemistry student, 2nd year
“Serving as a mentor has helped me better understand my students as an instructor. I have learned so much from her!" – U of G faculty member
