Alumni Mentor Policy

Students or Mentees

There are over a thousand alumni and professionals in our database, so we cannot prescreen everyone who wants to be a mentor or host a student at a workplace. We encourage you to use normal precautions when contacting and meeting a stranger. Meet with your mentor or professional during regular business hours, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., in a public setting. We suggest that you do not meet after business hours. Do not consume alcohol prior to or during your interactions with alumni/professionals. Do not meet at a private/home office. Meet with your mentors in a public setting, such as a café, restaurant, office building, or campus. Limit the time of conversation to no more than an hour unless you are shadowing them at work, getting a company tour, or attending professional activities such as a conference, work-related event, or workshop. Maintain a professional decorum by engaging in appropriate conversations (e.g., while you might ask about work-life balance, it would not be appropriate to ask if they are dating anyone. You might ask about salary range for the position but not the person's specific salary). If after-work hours are the only convenient time, use the same above precautions. Failure to adhere to this policy will result in termination from the Alumni Mentor, Job Shadowing/Externship programs. When in doubt, speak to someone at the Magner Career Center for guidance on appropriate interactions with a mentor.

Professionals and Alumni Mentors

Do not meet with the student in a private/home office. Meet with your mentee in a public setting, such as a café, restaurant, office building, or campus. Do not consume alcohol prior to or during your interactions with students, and do not offer the student alcohol. Meet with your mentor during regular business hours, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., in a public setting. Limit the time of conversation to no more than an hour unless you are having the student shadow you at work, providing a company tour, introducing the student to colleagues, or attending a conference, workshop, or work-related event. Maintain a professional decorum by engaging in appropriate conversations and avoiding personal topics (e.g., relationship status, race, ethnicity, religion). If after-work hours are the only convenient time, use the same above precautions. Failure to adhere to this policy will result in termination from the Alumni Mentor, Job Shadowing/Externship programs. When in doubt, speak to someone at the Magner Career Center for guidance on appropriate interactions with a mentee.

Professionals and Alumni Mentors Discrimination

Brooklyn College prohibits discrimination in all of its programs, including the Magner Alumni Mentor, Job Shadowing/Externship programs, on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, marital status, partnership status, disability, genetic information, alienage, citizenship, military or veteran status, status as a victim of domestic violence/stalking/sex offenses, unemployment status, or any other legally prohibited basis in accordance with federal, state, and city laws.

Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination. Students have the right to be free from harassment on the basis of sex while participating in the Alumni Mentor, Job Shadowing/Externship programs. CUNY's policies prohibit sexual harassment or violence of any kind, including sexual assault, unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature on or off campus. Some examples of prohibited harassment are:

Using a person's response to a request for sexual favor as a basis for an academic or employment decision, including in unpaid student internships.
Sexual comments, teasing, jokes, slurs of derogatory statements, or other verbal abuse of a sexual nature.
Graphic or sexually suggestive comments about bodies or clothing.
Graphic or sexually suggestive gestures.
Pressure to accept social invitations, meet privately, date, or have sexual relations.
Sexual touching, brushing up against another in a sexual manner, cornering, grabbing, kissing, or fondling.
Coerced sexual intercourse or sexual assault.
Inquiries or discussions about sexual activities.

Professionals and mentors are prohibited from engaging in any discrimination on any basis, including sexual harassment, with respect to students or mentees. Failure to adhere to this policy will result in termination from the Alumni Mentor, Job Shadowing/Externship programs. In addition, consistent with New York State law, all sexual activity shall be based on the affirmative consent of both parties. Affirmative consent means knowing, voluntary, and mutual decision among all participants to engage in sexual activity. Consent can be given by words or actions, as long as those words or actions create clear permission regarding willingness to engage in the sexual activity. Silence or lack of resistance does not demonstrate consent.

The students therefore have the right to be protected from discrimination and harassment through the laws that apply to the college as students, and in addition may have extra rights under the New York State Labor Law. We reserve the right to remove any alumni or professional from the Alumni Mentor, Job Shadowing/Externship programs and other Magner Career Center services/programs if you violate our policies or there is a perception of inappropriate behavior. If you have any additional questions in regards to these policies, contact: