How to Use Your Connection Plan

1. Using the Connection Plan

2. • Track recommended tasks and due dates
• Find resources linked to task descriptions
• Add comments to a task
• Upload documents
• Add your goals
• Schedule meetings
• Complete surveys
• Message your partner

3. • This document explains how to use the Connection Plan - the set
of tools provided to guide you from beginning to end of your
mentoring relationship.
• Using the Connection Plan properly will help you have a more
productive relationship.
• No one can see your progress except you, your partner, and
program administrators.

4. 1. GETTING STARTED
1. Find your connection
space. This space can
be found from
"Mentoring
Connections" in the
main navigation.
2. Browse your Mentoring
Connection Plan, a
timeline of
recommended
mentoring activities.

5. • Milestones tell you how
the relationship should
progress by grouping
activities into key phases.
• Click the arrow next to
the milestone heading
for more details about
the overall outcome
expected of this phase.

6. • Start working through your assigned tasks in the first milestone. Tasks are designed to be bite-sized
and quick, but they add up to real results. These tasks create a basic framework for the relationship
and should be completed on or before the recommended due date.
• Check off tasks as you complete them. We will run periodic reports to track progress. While much of
your interaction may take place outside of the mentoring platform, it is critical that you complete your
tasks and check them off in order to complete the program.

7. • Click the right-side icon to open a hidden description that may include links to vital
resources or worksheets.
• You can also add comments to:
 Communicate status updates
 Upload completed worksheets or relevant documents
 Send a message regarding a task to your partner

8. • Click “Create Goal Plan” where prompted in a task. This takes you to the Goal Plan page.
• Click on “Create Goal Plan” to enter the
goal plan area, then select .
• Enter a title and description. In the
description, you might add a timeframe
and how you will know when the goal is
achieved.
• Tip: To show initiative and ensure success,
add a few tasks. These should be specific
actions you will take to reach your goal.

9. • Click “set up meeting”
where prompted.
• This will open a meeting
scheduler.
Tip: Don’t forget to sync
your meetings with
your personal
calendar. Click the
“Meetings” tab, then
“My Meetings.”

10. • We need your survey responses at the timeframes indicated in
your task list.
• Click the name of the survey from your Mentoring Connection
Plan.
• Your feedback is crucial to keep the program going!
• You will receive email reminders to take surveys, but you only
need to take each one once.

11. • At the top of the space is a messages tab. This is the best way to
correspond with your partner, who will receive your messages via email.
• You can also correspond by commenting on a task. This comment will
sync into the messaging area.
• When you get an email notification of a message from your partner, you
can reply to the email. Your response will sync into the messaging area
& your partner will be notified right away.

12. • It's all too easy to push a mentoring relationship to the backburner, letting it fall
behind. This is less likely to happen if you are disciplined about tracking progress.
• Tracking progress leads to better individual results. That means checking off tasks
as you go, scheduling meetings, contacting your partner regularly, and completing
surveys when prompted.
• Some of the reasons to track include:
 Get the most out of your mentoring relationship
 Stay in touch with your goals
 Track your learnings to export later and use for future reflection
 Hold your partner accountable
 Help us track the impact of the mentoring initiative