APAC Mentorship Initiative

January is National Mentoring Month, making this an ideal time to share that the Academic Professional Advisory Committee (APAC) Mentorship Pilot Program, anchored by the Office for Access and Equity (OAE), will launch in FY27. This pilot will connect Academic Professional (AP) mentors and mentees across the university to foster professional growth, build meaningful relationships, and create momentum in career development, while strengthening UIC’s culture of learning and support.

Mentors will have the opportunity to share their expertise, expand their own skillsets, and make a campus-wide impact through meaningful guidance. Mentees will accelerate their professional growth with personalized mentor attention focusing on career goals and development needs. The program will feature:

Thoughtful mentor-mentee matching based on goals, interests, and experience, ensuring successful matches

A clear, structured program with personalized agendas, helpful reminders, and resources

An extensive resource library with mentoring handbooks, courses, and articles

Participation in this program requires supervisor approval, so interested employees should discuss their goals, timing, and available support with their supervisors prior to applying. Application details and links will be shared in the coming months.