Forever Buffs Network Mentorship Program

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CASE District VI Award

The Forever Buffs Network Mentorship Program is an opportunity for CU Boulder alumni and students to foster meaningful relationships that will set the mentees up for success in their future careers and life beyond CU. The program includes both alumni-to-alumni mentorship and alumni-to-student mentorship, enabling alumni to share their professional and personal experience and expertise with current students and young alumni.听CU staff, faculty, friends and family are also encouraged to sign up to mentor. The only requirement is that participants register in the .听

Mentors and mentees that complete all the milestones in the program will be eligible for an official and completion badge. Credly badges are offered in partnership with the Office of the Registrar. Learn more about CU Boulder-issued Credly badges and micro-credentials, click here.

Getting Started for Prospective Mentors and Mentees

  1. Apply by completing the 2025-2026 Forever Buffs Network Application via the Forever Buffs Network
    1. Note: If you do not have an FBN account, you will be prompted to create one.
    2. This form provides essential information for matching mentors and mentees. If you are selected and matched, you鈥檒l be introduced to your match via email, with additional instructions in October.
  2. Update/ Complete your profile: The Better Your Profile, the Better Your Prospective Match!
    1. Click 鈥淓dit Profile鈥 in the top right corner and be sure to:
      1. Upload a professional photo
      2. Add your academic, professional, and volunteer experience
      3. Fill in the 鈥淥ther Information鈥 section to help create a strong, well-rounded match
  3. Update key fields
    1. Be sure to complete your industry, location, and mentorship preferences as they will be considered in the matching process.
  4. Select your mentorship preference under 鈥淥ffer Mentoring鈥:
    1. Alumni mentoring students听鈫 Select: 鈥淏e a mentor/mentee with a current student鈥
    2. Students seeking mentorship听鈫 Select: 鈥淏e a mentor/mentee with a current student鈥
    3. Alumni mentoring other alumni 鈫 Select: 鈥淏e a mentor/mentee with an alum鈥
    4. Alumni seeking mentorship 鈫 Select: 鈥淏e a mentor/mentee with an alum鈥
  5. Click 鈥淪ave鈥 at the bottom of your profile page to ensure your updates are recorded.

Please visit the for resources for both mentors and mentees. If you have questions, send us an email.

Key Dates 2025鈥26

Fall 2025

Sept. 1: Application Opens

Mentors and mentees: Complete your Forever Buffs Network Application and update your profile for the best match experience.

Sept. 19: Virtual Town Hall + Q&A | 12鈥1 p.m. MT

Open to all mentors, mentees, and collaborators. Bring your questions!

Sept. 30: Application Deadline

Last day to submit your application and join this year鈥檚 mentorship cohort.

Oct. 1鈥17: Matching Period

We鈥檒l be pairing mentors and mentees and introducing you via email.

Oct. 20: Program Launch

The 2025鈥26 Forever Buffs Network Mentorship Program officially begins.

October-April: Ongoing engagement through monthly 1:1 mentor and mentee meetings, online and in-person communication with university staff and faculty, supplemented by resources, training and workshops.

Oct. 22: Kickoff Events

Choose to attend one:

  • 11 a.m. MT 鈥 Virtual Kickoff on Zoom
  • 6 p.m. MT 鈥 In-person Networking at Koenig Alumni Center
  • Asynchronous: Watch Short Forever Buffs Network Mentorship Tutorials

Nov. 12: Required Online Training for New Participants

  • 12 p.m. MT 鈥 New Mentor Training
  • 5 p.m. MT 鈥 New Mentee Training
  • Asynchronous: Watch Short Forever Buffs Network Mentorship Tutorials

Dec. 17: Fall Deadline

Submit your Mentorship Contract and Fall Evaluation via the Forever Buffs Network

Spring 2025

April 1: Program Closing Celebration.

  • Virtual: 12鈥1 p.m. MT
  • In-person: 6鈥7 p.m. MT at Koenig Alumni Center

April 8:听DEADLINE: Final evaluation due. Program ends.

May 19-23:听Credly Certificates sent out to qualified participants.

Who can be a mentor?

If you are a听CU Boulder alumni, you are encouraged to participate in the mentorship program, as your story may be one that helps another Forever Buff. As a mentor, you will serve a role in the professional and personal development of your mentees. You will help your mentees navigate challenges, set goals, learn professional behavior and identify the options ahead of them. Through regular connection and intentional interactions, you can have a long-term impact on your mentee.

Mentors are encouraged to connect with their mentees regularly throughout their established mentorship relationship. Your mentorship can help provide structure to your mentee鈥檚 life, plan for the next steps in their career and help them build their professional networks.听

If you are a young alum or current CU Boulder student you can be a mentee. As a mentee, your goal is to broaden your professional network and enhance your personal development using strategic planning and effective personal skills. As a mentee, you will gain knowledge from your mentor and must have the ambition to practice and demonstrate what you have learned. Your role is to identify your goals and needs while gauging whether or not you鈥檙e getting what you need from your mentor.听

Mentees are encouraged to connect with their mentors regularly throughout their established mentorship relationship.The Forever Buffs Network Mentorship Program begins in mid-October after mentorship pairs are introduced and runs through April.

Mentors and mentees will be matched based on the Forever Buffs Network鈥檚 unique algorithm, taking into account users鈥 profile details, including industry, location and the field selected for 鈥淲hat type of mentorship relationship are you seeking?鈥澨

Industry selection for Mentees:

We recommend that you select an industry closest to that for which you are interested in pursuing. This may or may not coincide with your current industry, academic major or degree. For example, if your major is Business Administration, but you are interested in pursuing a career in the film industry, select "Motion Pictures & Film."

Location selection for Mentees:

We recommend that you select your location based on where you are attempting to advance your career. For example, if you currently reside in Boulder but plan to move to New York after graduation, select New York as your location. This will help match you with a mentor in the New York area who would be a more suitable match for your career and networking needs.

BIPOC mentorship:

BIPOC Mentorship pairs will be matched based on industry and circumstance. We cannot guarantee BIPOC mentorship pairs and will do our best to satisfy this relationship type. For those who do not get matched with a BIPOC mentor/mentee, please be encouraged to join the BIPOC Mentorship Community in the Mentorship Group. The BIPOC Mentorship Community will include regular panel discussions and opportunity for peer-to-peer connection.

By joining the program, you are committing to the mentorship relationship for the 2025鈥2026 academic year (beginning in Oct. 2025 and ending in April 2026). The timeline ensures pairs have adequate time to connect, agree upon goals and work together to complete program milestones. Program curriculum (milestones) and key dates will be communicated through the Forever Buffs Network Mentorship Group to help mentors and mentees stay on track.

We cannot guarantee that everyone who joins the program will be matched. In the instance of an uneven number of available mentors or mentees, some individuals may be left unmatched. Our Forever Buffs staff plan to communicate with any individual left unmatched and discuss steps for future involvement.

The mentorship program can be completed 100% virtually. Mentors and mentees are encouraged to meet once a month at a minimum.

Kickoff events and trainings are held both in-person, virtually over Zoom, and asynchronously.

Trainings are required for new mentors and mentees.

Hear from past mentors and mentees

Mentor Ben Gerding (Mktg鈥21)

鈥淢entoring can be one of the most rewarding aspects of one's career. As a mentor, I am honored to be part of a mentoring relationship where I can share experiences that will help the mentee navigate their own career journey. A good relationship is one where both the mentor and the mentee gain new ways of approaching challenges because of the deeper conversations and experiences that each participant shares.鈥

Past Mentee Supraja Kumbargeri (ComSci鈥23)

鈥淭his was my first time taking part in the Forever Buffs Network Mentorship Program, and I had a great experience. My mentor was incredibly knowledgeable, kind, and helpful. We spoke over the phone during our meetings, and I came prepared with a list of questions 鈥 something the program structure encouraged and supported. We discussed topics like job searching, resume and interview tips, and broader career navigation. Having the opportunity to speak with someone so experienced was truly invaluable. I came away from each conversation with clarity, confidence, and actionable insights. I highly recommend this program to anyone looking for guidance and mentorship in their professional journey.鈥

Past Mentee Matthew Mackenzie (InfoSci鈥15)

鈥淢y mentoring partnership through Forever Buffs has provided me guidance and support for navigating career challenges and helping clarify my goals.鈥

Connect with students and fellow CU Boulder alumni by joining the Forever Buffs Network

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