NCICU’s iBELONG MALE MENTORING PROGRAM^sm provides funding to implement a strategy designed to increase persistence, retention and/or graduation rates of minority male 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, for a total of $55,000. 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