SCIE Ambassador Program
Become a SCIE Ambassador

How to Apply

The SCIE Ambassador Program recruitment is open for the 2021-2022 academic year.

To apply, interested students must submit an application along with their current resume. Additionally, students must submit a brief one-page statement of interest that articulates:

why they would like to participate in the program
any experience they have working to promote inclusivity on campus or elsewhere,
and how they would describe their leadership style or strengths

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All three items should be submitted to the Office of Student Engagement at studentexp@vcu.edu.

Benefits of Participation

The SCIE Ambassador Program is an amazing opportunity to become a leader on the MCV campus regarding issues of diversity and inclusion. The benefits of participating in the SCIE Ambassador Program include:

Peer mentorship with colleagues from all of the health sciences schools
Informal mentorship opportunities with faculty and administrators from both the MCV and MPC campuses
Assigned a faculty mentor with whom you meet throughout the year
Receive training on and develop increased awareness of leadership skills; allyship and combating micro-aggressions; and social identity development
Impact the development of initiatives and influence progress related to increasing inclusion on the MCV campus through participation in the creation of the Strategic Brief and/or development of a group project
Liaise with home school and student organizations on behalf of the Office of Student Experience
Opportunities to engage with the university at large through specific requests from other offices and units

Learning Objectives

Increase understanding of leadership development & concepts
Develop a realistic self-appraisal of personality & leadership style
Develop meaningful relationships with peers & formal mentors
Develop leadership skills, including communication, networking, collaboration, & decision making skills

Expectations for Ambassadors

Attend all SCIE Ambassador Program meetings. Every effort is made to schedule meetings (i.e., day of the week) around the schedule of the current cohort. If an Ambassador has to miss a meeting, he or she is expected to communicate that to the facilitators. Wanting more time to study is not an appropriate reason for absence from a scheduled meeting. Two absences in the program may result in the termination of the Ambassador residency.
Be knowledgeable of OSE events and initiatives, and help to promote these events in student organizations and groups to which the Ambassador belongs.
Meet with assigned mentor once per semester and complete a Mentorship Form to document each meeting. Prior to the closing ceremony, Ambassadors must submit a one page reflection paper about their mentorship experience.
Inform OSE of events, initiatives, issues occurring in the Ambassador’s school that may impact under-represented students.
Provide honest feedback about each session and the Ambassador’s overall experience in the program.
Stay connected with the OSE after their year in residence to provide feedback about current diversity issues in the Ambassador’s school.

Mentorship

The program schedule includes a session on mentorship that will provide Ambassadors valuable information about the importance of mentorship, and how to get the most out of their mentoring relationship. This session will also help Ambassadors identify personal mentorship goals.

SCIE Ambassadors will be required to locate and secure a mentor of their choosing as part of the program.

SCIE Ambassadors are required to meet with their mentors at least once per semester. They are expected to complete a Mentorship Form to facilitate documentation of and reflection on these meetings. Additionally, prior to the closing ceremony, Ambassadors must write a one-page reflection paper about their mentorship experience.

SCIE Ambassador mentors will be invited to the closing ceremony, providing additional opportunities for informal mentorship for the current cohort.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the SCIE Ambassador Program?

The SCIE Ambassador Program is an inter-professional leadership opportunity for students who are interested in and have a passion for cultivating diversity and inclusion across the medical campus. Designed for students who self-identify as coming from under-represented backgrounds, the SCIE Ambassador Program provides students with an opportunity to connect with peers, faculty, and administrators from all of the health sciences schools who similarly identify. Selected Ambassadors spend a year in residence wherein they meet approximately once monthly to receive training and to discuss their experiences as under-represented minorities in the health sciences. While Ambassadors are presented with a certificate of completion at the conclusion of the year, they continue to serve in the role of SCIE Ambassadors until graduation. This ongoing role involves continuing to be an agent of change around diversity issues on campus by sharing their experiences, making recommendations for improvement, and taking advantage of opportunities when possible.

Q: How many SCIE Ambassadors are there?

Each year, 12 ambassadors (two-three from each program) will be selected from the applicant pool for the year in residence.

Q: What are the the qualifications for being a SCIE Ambassador?

All SCIE Ambassadors must self-identify as an underrepresented minority.

Q: What topics do the SCIE Ambassadors explore?

To what extent are issues of diversity and inclusion discussed in their classes? In their programs?
Does the student governance (for their class and/or for their school) include diverse representation?
Is program information accessible and widely available to all students?
Are there opportunities – both formal and informal – for them to interact with faculty and administrators who identify as belonging to an underrepresented population?
What mentoring opportunities are available?
Do their programs provide the opportunity for them and other students to discuss cultural differences and how they may impact mentoring relationships?

Q: How often do the SCIE Ambassadors meet?

The SCIE Ambassador program holds five meetings per semester, meeting approximately once monthly. Meetings take place in the evenings and dinner is provided.

Q: What does ‘SCIE’ stand for, anyhow?

The Student Council for an Inclusive Environment (SCIE).