The ACES Mentorship Program connects current ACES students with ACES alumni for a year of career-focused mentorship, supporting the personal and professional growth of students by tapping into the experience of our graduates. After a successful pilot year in 2025-2026, the ACES Mentorship Program is excited to enter the 2026-2027 year with expanded capacity and improvements build directly from what we learned in year one. This program is presented by the ACES Alumni Association in collaboration with the ACES Alumni Board and ACES Career Services.
What to Expect:
- Applications: Whether you're a student or an alumus/a, watch your mandatory expectations video and fill out the application through the links below.
- Commitments: The program will run from October-April. Matches will be encouraged to meet once a month but are welcome to find a schedule that works for them.
- Pairs will receive monthly conversation-starter prompts by email to provide ideas for connection
- Attend an optional in-person networking event on campus in early spring
- There is no requirement: Participation in this program is completely voluntary. We're searching for students and alumni who are genuinely interested in building a meaningful mentoring relationship and believe that authentic engagement is the key to that experience.
Title
Students
ACES students are invited to review the FAQ's below and apply for the program. Match priority will be given to students with sophomore status or above.
Before completing your application, you must watch the mandatory mentee expectations video to understand the program requirements.
Title
Alumni
All ACES Alumni are invited to apply to be a mentor. We welcome your expertise and invite you to review the FAQ's below.
Before completing your application, you must watch the mandatory mentor expectations video to understand the program requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can participate in the ACES Mentoring Program?
Match priority will be given to students with sophomore status or above, but all students are welcome to apply. The program accepts mentor applications from any ACES alumni from around the globe, but priority will be given to alumni who have yet to participate in the program.
How long does the ACES Mentoring Program run for?
Each program cohort runs for the length of the academic year with the program kick-off taking place in October and ending with the program wrap-up event taking place mid-April.
When is the application period?
The ACES Mentoring Program will start accepting mentor/mentee applications the week of September 9. The application deadline is September 24.
How will I get paired with my mentee or mentor?
We will pair mentees and mentors based on the answers you provide on the application form to the following categories: major/career interest, personal development goals, and general interests.
What if I am not matched with a mentor/mentee?
We strive to create a holistic program, but unfortunately not all mentors/mentees are guaranteed a match. Regardless of the match outcome, we invite you to engage with the College of ACES in other ways, examples of which can be found at Get Involved | College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences | Illinois. We encourage students to reach out to ACES Career Services to explore alternate connection opportunities and explore the ACES student clubs & organizations list to find more ways to get involved on campus.
When will I know if I was accepted into the ACES Mentoring Program?
Applicants will receive an email the week of October 13th letting you know if you have been selected for this year‘s cohort. Mentee/Mentor pairs will be announced at this time.
Do I need to live in Illinois to be a mentor?
Short answer: no! While there are optional in-person activities associated with the program it is not a requirement to be in-person or to live in Illinois to be an alumni mentor.
Who can I contact with questions?
For any questions, email acesalumni@illinois.edu. The ACES Mentoring Program is supported by the College of ACES Alumni Board as well as ACES Academic Programs and Career Services.