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Overview

A female student retention, persistence, graduation, and advance degree exploration component of the Dr. Harley E. Flack Student Mentoring Program, Ujima, evolved from its male counterpart, which targets the first year male student. Matching interested incoming first year and transfer students; priority is given to African American/Latino/EOF/MAP and then, the general population of female students with women who provide a network of support for succeeding in the collegiate environment is this Component’s intent Originally coordinated by the Black Coalition of Rowan University and now under the auspices of the Division of Student Affairs, Ujima (a Swahili term meaning “collective responsibility”) was primarily activated by interested young women who felt the need to connect with professional role models who would support them in fulfilling their personal and career goals.  In order to assist women who are interested in obtaining academic success, high self-esteem, career preparation and sisterhood, mentors interact with their mentees in a variety of individual and group activities.  With the assistance of the Student Advisory Board and the Co- Curricular Learning Experiences Board, the Component Coordinator works to insure the success of the program.  The Boards, which serves as a recommending and project implementation body, has primary responsibility for program planning, publicity and representation of the program at all official functions such as Freshman and Transfer Orientations, Convocation, and specific university-wide events.

History

Since its inception in the spring of 1995, under the leadership of Dr. Diane Hughes, a faculty member in Business Administration, the program has steadily grown.  During the spring of 1996, Dr. Shirley Muller, past faculty member in Reading, assumed coordination where fifty active mentors and mentees met for a formal initiation and matching ceremony.  Now under the leadership of Ms. Julie Peterson, Special Assistant to the Vice President of Student Affairs, the component proudly sponsors well over one hundred twenty mentors matched with four hundred female students.

Purpose

The Female Mentoring Component, Ujima is a voluntary organization, which matches female students with female members of the Administration, Faculty, Staff, Alumni in order to assist the students in achieving academic success, high self-esteem, career preparation and sisterhood.  Mentors will interact with mentees in both individual and group activities.

The success of the Ujima Female Mentoring Component is a collaborative effort between mentors and their mentees. In recognition of this, mentors and mentees at the beginning of their relationship make a commitment to foster a supportive, active community of learners.

Structure

Governance:

Responsibility for overall coordination of this program resides with the Coordinator who will recruit an Advisory Committee from among eligible Mentors.  Additionally, the Student Board will serve as a recommending body with responsibility for program planning, word-of-mouth publicity and representation of the program at all official events such as Freshman and Transfer Orientation, PCI Summer Institute, ASPIRE Leadership Program and requests for presentations on the program.  The student board members are expected to be effective liaisons between their peers and the mentors, helping to identify those students most in need of mentoring.  Every effort will be made to assist board members in attending relevant student leadership conferences as representatives of the group.  New board members are appointed with input from both current members and the Advisory Committee.

Membership:

Phase I:  Makeda - Sisterhood

First priority for one-on-one mentoring will be given to all first year and transfer students experiencing academic difficulties.  Consistent communication between the Mentor and Mentee will help to establish the initial bond of sisterhood, which facilitates student success and a satisfactory mentoring experience.

Makeda, phase I of the Female Mentoring Component, derived its name from the Ethiopian queen.  “According to Ethiopian folklore, the Merchant Prince, Tarmin returned from trading in Israel with glowing reports of the wisdom of the great King Solomon.  Makeda was so fascinated with the tales of the Judan monarch; she assembled an extravagant caravan ladened with a cargo of lavish gifts.  An abundance of gold and spices made Ethiopia a vibrant trade center.  With gifts such as these, Makeda set out on a sojourn to pay homage to Solomon.  Upon meeting, the king and queen were equally intrigued with one another.  She admired his great knowledge; and he, her grace and intelligence.  Fondness grew into love and their union produced Menelek I, from whom history’s longest line of royalty descends.  Thus is the legend of Makeda, the Biblical figure recognized as the Queen of Sheba”.

Phase II:  Hatshepsut - Sistertalk

For those young women wishing to maintain an ongoing mentoring relationship with their initial mentor and/or others in the network, Sistertalk offers an opportunity for further mentoring.  Group experiences, which may include seminars on topics, related to professional development, career paths and current events, as well as field trips to historic sites, social outings and special events such as poetry readings and other member-sponsored activities would characterize the member experience during Phase II.

Hatsheput, phase II of the Female Mentoring Component, derived its name from the ablest queen of far antiquity.  “Some Egyptologists regard Hatshepsut as the greatest female ruler of all time.  Her father, Thothmes I, was highly impressed with the efficiency of his daughter and appointed her manager and co-ruler of his kingdom.  As his successor, she proved to be a most competent leader.  As the first woman in recorded history to preside over a nation, Hatsheput cast aside the theory of male supremacy”.

Phase III:  Amina - Sisterlink

As they become available, community volunteers representing a variety of professions will be matched for one-on-one mentoring with interested members of Sisterlink.

Amina, phase III of the Female Mentoring Component, derived its name from the Queen Amina of Zaria.  “Amina is generally remembered for her fierce military exploits.  Many wars she fought, and all she won.  And through her conquests, she expanded the area under her reign southward to the great River Niger - including Idah and Nupeland - and up to the Kano of the north.  A brilliant military strategist, Amina erected the building of the famous Zaria wall.  Today she is remembered as a woman as capable as a man”.