Photo by Steve Fallon
This year a mentoring program with KPMG, an audit tax and advisory firm, is being facilitated for Ramapo students. KPMG approached Ramapo College, along with three other universities, for their University Mentoring Program. Part of KPMG’s culture as a company is to give back to the community; they established this program as a part of that effort.
KPMG is seeking students who are willing to commit to the University Mentoring Program for at least one year, starting in the middle of the spring semester. The target audience is sophomores and juniors, but KPMG is more than willing to accommodate first year and senior students. Students and their mentors will communicate throughout the year via cellphone and email, and are encouraged to meet up in person at least twice a month whether on campus, at the Montvale office, or at a location convenient to both the mentor and the student.
Pamela Cohen, a career development specialist in the Anisfield School of Business, explained that this program is attractive to students because it guides them in the potentially intimidating task of getting a job.
“For some students, the process of choosing a career path and preparing to enter the professional world can be a daunting task. With a mentor, a student has someone to offer advice, approach challenges from a different perspective, or to serve as a student that weighs their options. Also, because the mentors are established professionals, they have the capacity to introduce students to colleagues and peers, which helps students expand their network of contacts,” Cohen said.
Cohen placed an emphasis on the fact that the mentoring program is not just for accounting majors. Most of the mentors out of the Montvale office who host the program are not actually accountants; rather they play roles that support the company worldwide. Having a mentor can give students the chance to build a relationship with someone who can relate to them and help them establish their own path.
“I think that would be a great addition to what ASB offers and might in time be a substitution for the CEC,” said senior Greg Pagano. “I wish I had something like that when I was a freshman or a sophomore. It should be something for underclassmen, and they should utilize ASB and the resources that are available. A mentor would be a great thing to have just for the fact that they have been through the system and have a better grasp on what is to be expected.”
Freshman Michelle Rincon, when asked whether she would do the program, gave a quick yes.
“Navigating the real world is hard if you don’t know what you’re doing. Having someone to help walk you through it would be fantastic,” Rincon said.
Students who are interested in the program or wish to learn more can stop by the Cahill Center Satellite Office, located in ASB-513, to pick up an application for the program, or they can email Pamela Cohen at pcohen@ramapo.edu. Applications for the program are now being accepted through Dec. 1.
lheckelm@ramapo.edu
