University of Maryland, Baltimore Professional Administratives Committed to Excellence (UMBPACE)

Mission

UMBPACE is an affinity group within the UMBrella Group that supports UMB administrative staff. UMBPACE created this mentoring program to help new administrative staff navigate UMB’s policies and procedures and will provide coaching and professional development resources and tools that will develop or enhance their skill sets to help them achieve their personal and professional goals.

Mentoring Goal

To provide mentees with training, resources, and the opportunity to establish relevant relationships that will improve their administrative journey with coaching and guidance.

Confidentiality Clause

All participants are required to sign a confidentiality statement. It is important that everyone agrees to maintain confidentiality. In a one-on-one mentoring relationship, it is essential that the mentor does not divulge anything that the mentee shares, unless the person is being harmed or in danger, or the mentee has given the mentor permission to do so.

Application Process

This program is voluntary. There is not an application process; an invitation will be sent to prospective mentees.

Requirements

Participants must be newly hired administrative staff with fewer than five years of experience and/or less than one year of service to UMB.

Website

Mentee’s name will be added to the UMBPACE website.

Suggested Program Activities

• Set written goals
• Talk about expectations
• Make a plan — create a list of things you want to show/learn or work on
• Get to know each other; write down a paragraph about yourself and share it
• Have your mentee do a self-assessment in the beginning, the middle, and at the end
• Recommend books and articles to read, and discuss them
• Recommend volunteering at UMB activities and events
• Provide resource lists that are posted on the UMBPACE website
• Recommend conferences and professional groups
• Point out helpful UMB websites and show how to navigate them
• Introduce mentee to influential people in different departments at UMB who could be helpful in their success

Schedule

The entire team (UMBPACE and mentees) will meet monthly and do an activity or demonstration. Each UMBPACE member will mentor one mentee per six-month period. The mentors and mentees will meet individually weekly to discuss activities and assignments. The monthly meeting will include discussion of the activities and assignments coached during the month. 

Kickoff and Closing

There will be a ceremony to kick off the six-month journey and a ceremony at the end.

Monthly Skill Improvement Topics

• Time Management
• Elm Training
• Doodle Poll Demonstration
• Stress Management
• Dealing with Different Personalities
• Priority Management
• Professionalism