Chapter 2: Developing Through Relationships: Mentoring Emerging Adults in Higher Education

In this chapter, we demonstrate how wellbeing can be cultivated within mentor-mentee relationships in higher education. Compass is a year-long academic and socio-emotional immersion program for underprepared college students. The success of underprepared students is dependent upon the capacity to foster not only academic skills (e.g., reading, writing, comprehension), but the full range of nonacademic skills as well (e.g., emotional regulation, work ethic, growth mindset, a sense of purpose). Unlike traditional remedial programs that offer piecemeal instruction, Compass fosters development of the whole student through the process of guided mastery over time. This is accomplished by establishing mentor-mentee relationships between faculty and individual students. Over time, in both synchronous and asynchronous interactions, mentors scaffold the development of both (a) academic knowledge and skills and (b) noncognitive skills for regulating student wellbeing, emotion, cultivating a purposive sense of self, identifying with core values, identifying career goals, and cultivating a growth mindset.