Mentee applications for class of 2022-2023 are closed. We will send out a call for applications in Spring of 2023-2024.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the program, potential mentees must meet the following criteria:

1. Be a staff member in Information Technology 
2. Have completed their probation period
3. Have at least 1 year of service at the time the cohort is selected
4. Be in a career (type 2) appointment of 50% or more
5. Have a satisfactory or meets rating on their most recent performance evaluation
6. Be in career tracks grade 17-27, or equivalent (this includes all Business Technical Support Analyst and System Administrator positions)
7. Commit to minimum participation of 4 hours per month for 12 months
8. Have supervisor's support to participate
9. Not be a member of the Tech Leadership Development Program Committee (in order to support a fair application and selection process; if interested, applicants may sign up to volunteer for the committee after admission decisions are finalized)

Monthly Programs 

The Tech LDP presents monthly programs focused on professional skills and leadership development. Past professional skills areas have included Lean and A3 thinking, product management, public speaking, problem identification and resolution, effective listening, embracing and leveraging the strengths of a diverse workforce, effectively providing and receiving feedback, creating and leading effective teams, and effective situational communication. Our outstanding leadership speakers challenge our mentees to grow attributes like confidence, courage, self-awareness, flexibility, inclusivity, empathy, resourcefulness, and creativity. 

Team Projects 

Mentees are grouped into teams of four and select a problem to solve. They work with subject matter experts to propose their solution, which they present at the end of the program. Most teams spend approximately one hour per week on this project over the last four months of the program. Examples of past projects are available on our website. 

Cost of Participation

The participant costs cover books, printing, mailing, virtual team-building events, and outside speakers. These costs are shared with participating departments. The Tech LDP has the enthusiastic support of each eligible department's leadership, and if you are accepted we will work with your department to cover the cost of your participation. 

Mentee Application Process

Eligible staff submit an application explaining why they want to participate in the program, what they can bring to the program, and what they hope to get out of the program. Applicants are encouraged to describe their commitment to UCSF and the mission, citing specific actions and examples where appropriate. Applications are reviewed by the committee, and mentees are selected on the merits of their applications and the balance they bring to the year’s cohort. 

We generally receive three times as many applications as available positions, so we strongly encourage interested staff to join an information session to help them prepare their application. 

Application Questions

1. Why do you want to participate in the UCSF Tech LDP? Please address what you hope to get out of the program.

2. What will you bring to the LDP?

3. What gaps do you perceive in your professional development and how do you think the LDP might help you to address those gaps?

4. Briefly describe your involvement in a project of which you are particularly proud. What was the impact of the implementation and what were the benefits? Please describe any obstacles encountered and give examples of your resourceful measures in addressing them.

5. Development of a peer network is one of the unique opportunities available to LDP participants. What expectations would you have for formal and informal interactions with a LDP mentee peer group? How might such a network affect your individual goals for the program?

6. UCSF is committed to building a community that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive. What does a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment mean to you? What steps have you taken in order to achieve it? How can you help support this goal if you’re selected for the LDP mentoring program?

Mentor Match

Once the mentee cohort is selected, the committee shares the resumes of the potential mentors with the mentees. Mentees meet potential mentors at the mentee/mentor mixer and interview potential mentors one-on-one. At the end of the interview period, both mentees and mentors rank their top choices. The committee pairs mentees and mentors using the highest mutual match. Mentees are guaranteed a mentor, but not all mentors are guaranteed a mentee. Mentors will not be matched with mentees within their direct reporting.

Once matched, mentees and mentors draft and sign a mentoring agreement. This agreement outlines the mentee’s professional development needs, the pair’s mutual goals and expectations for the mentorship period, the venue and frequency of their meetings, and communications. The pair returns the signed agreement to the committee within 2 weeks of match and checks their progress quarterly.

FAQs

• How many applications have been submitted in the past? What has the acceptance rate been? We have accepted 60 mentees (12, 12, 16, 20) in the first 4 cohorts. We had a total of 139 applicants across all 4 years, so our overall acceptance rate is 43%. However, our acceptance rate has been dropping each year. Last year it ended up at 43%, but it would have been 34% if we hadn't expanded the cohort from 16 to 20. 
• What can potential mentees expect from the application sessions? As part of our DEI initiative, the committee members (who will be scoring applications) will not provide direct coaching during the application sessions. Instead, we are engaging our alumni to help provide potential mentees with application support. During application sessions, they will be addressing common questions and may share their past experiences in applying to the program. 
• What can mentees expect to get out of the program after one year? 
  • Connect professionally and personally with UCSF/external leaders 
  • Get to know your own strengths and maximize them 
  • Meet people from other departments and expand your network 
  • Learn skills to enhance your career and personal life 
  • Collaborate on a project with a group of great people, each possessing various strengths to complement each other, and propose solutions to make a difference 
  • Expand your work cycle 
  • Build long-lasting relationships with colleagues at UCSF 
  • Get to know different facets of the UCSF ecosystem 
  • Check out our past program sessions and speakers 
• Does the mentorship usually last even after the yearly program is completed? Yes. The bonding, friendships, and mentoring last long after graduation. Many of our mentees and mentors maintain strong relationships post-graduation. Alumni may consider applying to join the committee and/or to be a mentor to others. Take it as high as you would like.
• How do I pay for the program? The Tech LDP is supported by each participant's department. We have enthusiastic support from the leadership in each of our eligible departments. If you are accepted into the program we will work directly with your department leadership to cover the costs of your participation. There are no out-of-pocket costs to individual participants.

Mentor applications for class of 2022-2023 are closed. We will send out a call for applications in Winter/Spring of 2023-2024.

Mentors should be respected UCSF leaders with a strong interest in staff development and be committed to the UCSF mission. Mentors should be willing to commit a minimum of 2 hours per month for 12 months to their mentoring relationship. We encourage senior technologists, directors, managers, and supervisors to apply to be mentors. We try to recruit at least 2.5 times the number of mentees in potential mentors (e.g., 50 mentors for a cohort of 20 mentees) to give the mentees the best possible match. 

Mentor Match

Once the mentee cohort is selected, the committee shares the resumes of the potential mentors with the mentees. Mentees meet potential mentors at the mentee/mentor mixer and interview potential mentors one-on-one. At the end of the interview period, both mentees and mentors rank their top choices. The committee pairs mentees and mentors using the highest mutual match. Mentees are guaranteed a mentor, but not all mentors are guaranteed a mentee. Mentors will not be matched with mentees within their direct reporting. 

Once matched, mentees and mentors draft and sign a mentoring agreement. This agreement outlines the mentee’s professional development needs, the pair’s mutual goals and expectations for the mentorship period, the venue and frequency of their meetings, and communications. The pair returns the signed agreement to the committee within 2 weeks of the match and checks their progress quarterly. 

Mentoring FAQs

• I'm a remote employee. Will that be a problem?
  • Not at all! We are operating the program 100% remotely again this year. It's entirely up to the mentoring pairs if they want to meet in person, but it is not expected.
• I'm not in one of the eligible departments. Would I have anything to offer a mentee?
  • Mentors and mentees choose each other, so if a mentee is looking for something you can't offer then they won't rank you. Our mentees are eager to learn about all of the areas supporting UCSF's missions.
• If I don't hit it off with a mentee will one be assigned to me?
  • No. Mentors and mentees choose each other through a mutual matching process. If you don't connect with a particular mentee then you just don't rank them and you won't match with them. The stronger the connection you have with a mentee, the higher you rank them. But mentors are not guaranteed a match.
• I've never mentored before. What would I have to offer a mentee?
  • Have you ever given advice to a colleague? Have you ever helped a customer through a process, or connect with someone who can help them? Are you a good listener? Then you're already a mentor!