HSA Mentorship at RPS

Eligibility requirements

Current VCU college freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors interested in mentoring public school students. Applicants do not have a minimum GPA requirement but must enroll in the service-learning course required for the high school they will be working with.

Program description

HSA Mentorship at RPS is a full academic year with consecutive fall and spring semesters. HSA mentors at RPS enroll in a one-credit course in the fall and a two-credit VCU Service-Learning course taught during the spring. 

Fall 2023
PSYC 492/HPEX 491 – Orientation to Youth Mentoring

Fall 2022 Richmond Public Schools, Orientation to Mentorship Syllabus

• Semester Course, 1 lecture hour, 1 credit
• Service-Learning experiences at Richmond Community and John Marshall High School, or Dental Scholars Program.
• Fall 2023 meeting time: Fridays from 11 to 12:50 p.m.
• For Fall 2023, classes format will be in-person instruction.

Promotes skill development to foster positive youth development by formulating approaches to build grit, curiosity and character in youth.  Curriculum will include best practices for ensuring youth safety, community partner orientation and engaging youth through activities-based learning.  Service activities involve the recruitment, mentoring and selection of students from Richmond Public Schools into VCU Health Sciences Academy, Career Exploration Program.

Spring 2024
PSYC 492/HPEX 491– Effective Mentoring Practice

Spring 2022 Richmond Public Schools/Dental Scholars Effective Mentoring Practice

• 2 lecture hours, 2 credits
• Service-Learning placements at  Richmond Community High School, John Marshall High School, and Dental Scholars, High School Career Exploration Program
• Spring 2024 meeting times: TBA (Mentors will get to select site location based on interest and their class schedule)

Mentoring strategies are applied toward working with youth in local Richmond High Schools to assist them in preparing for careers and college entrance.  Curriculum will include application of theoretical knowledge and reflective exercises to build mentoring skills and foster positive youth development.  Workshops will be created in teams to introduce high school students to effective techniques for time management, college and career selection and delivering effective presentations.  Course sections will be selected based on needs of partnering schools and the Dental Scholars career health sciences pipeline program.

Dates

Fall and spring semester: August 18, 2023 - May 8, 2024.

Location

John Marshall High School or Richmond Community High School.

VCU Monroe Park and VCU Health Campus.

VCU School of Dentistry

Contact information

(804) 628-7605 or dsei@vcu.edu