NCICU’s iBELONG Mentoring Program provides funding to implement a strategy designed to increase persistence, retention and/or graduation rates of at-risk students on campus through programmatic efforts to mentor, to coach and to make forums available for the students to explore various career opportunities. The project was initially funded by a $27,500 grant from the Council of Independent Colleges which was matched, in large part by the VF Foundation and Wells Fargo. Twelve campuses participate in the program: Brevard College, Campbell University, Catawba College, Davidson College, Elon University, Gardner-Webb University, Greensboro College, Guilford College, High Point University, Livingstone College, North Carolina Wesleyan University, and Queens University of Charlotte.

Grant funds support:
Project Director
Campus Stipend
Participant scholarships ($250)
Purchase of materials such as “The Mentor’s Toolkit for Career Conversations”
Peer Tutoring

Events:
Etiquette dinner
Career research program
Campus meetings and capstone meeting of participants from all campuses