The Quinnipiac University Advancing Diversity in Science (QUADS) Compass Program at Quinnipiac University was designed to prepare juniors and seniors to mentor underrepresented high school students transitioning to college. However, the existing training lacked structured guidance, leaving mentors unprepared for real-world interactions. The program needed a scalable, engaging, and accessible online training platform.
4 Months
Web
Higher Education Students
Job Aid/Resource-Based, Web-Based Resource, Self-Paced eLearning
Accessibility Compliance, Content Design, Curriculum Development, Graphic Design, Instructional Design, Project Management, User Experience (UX) Design, Web Design
Accessibility Guidelines, Learning Objects (Animations, Infographics, Downloadables), WCAG Compliance Documentation, Learner Personas, Final Course Prototype (In-Person or Online), Onboarding Materials
The QUADS Program faced a challenge with training new mentors who joined mid-year. While mentors who started in fall received comprehensive in-person training, mid-year joiners missed this valuable opportunity. To address this gap, the program needed a new training solution that would provide consistent foundational knowledge while remaining flexible enough to work around busy student schedules. The training needed to be both structured and interactive, ensuring engagement while fitting within a strict 90-minute timeframe to accommodate students’ limited availability.
Create a standardized, engaging training program to prepare student mentors.
Equip mentors with communication, leadership, and cultural competency skills.
Deliver content in an accessible, user-friendly online format.
Develop interactive learning experiences to enhance engagement and retention.
Provide progress tracking and self-reflection tools to measure impact.
Quinnipiac University Juniors & Seniors participating as mentors.
Students from diverse academic backgrounds (Education, Social Sciences, etc.).
Many mentors are students passionate about paying it forward.
Strengthen leadership and mentoring skills for future roles.
Gain resume-building experience relevant to education and counseling fields.
Support high school students navigating the college application process.
Enhance personal and professional communication through structured mentorship training.
Real-world mentorship examples and role-playing activities.
Flexible short, modular lessons to complete training.
Discussion forums and peer reflections.
A mix of video lessons, interactive quizzes, and text-based guides.
Define the role and responsibilities of a QUADS mentor.
Develop strong communication and active listening skills for effective mentorship.
Learn culturally responsive mentoring strategies to support diverse students.
Prioritize clarity and accessibility in instructional content.
Use real-life mentorship scenarios to reinforce learning.
Create a structured, step-by-step training experience.
Develop short, focused modules covering essential mentorship skills.
Incorporate video-based storytelling and case studies.
Include interactive quizzes and self-reflection prompts for engagement.
The training follows a structured pathway, ensuring mentors develop skills progressively while staying within the 90-minute time limit:
Introduction to Mentorship: Mentors learn about their role, expectations, and the impact they have on mentees.
Effective Communication: Focuses on active listening, setting clear expectations, and giving constructive feedback.
Cultural Competency & Inclusion: Explores strategies for mentoring students from diverse backgrounds with empathy.
Problem-Solving & Conflict Resolution: Helps mentors navigate challenges, provide guidance, and maintain positive mentor-mentee relationships.
Final Reflection & Certification: Mentors complete self-assessments, review key takeaways, and receive a completion badge.
Training Videos featuring experienced mentors sharing best practices.
Accessibility Features (closed captions, screen-reader compatibility, mobile optimization).
Identify mentor challenges and best practices through stakeholder input.
Build the training on Google Sites for scalability and ease of access.
Conduct usability testing with a sample of mentors and incorporate improvements.
Release training with built-in feedback loops for ongoing updates.
Measure mentor proficiency gains and learning outcomes.
Feedback Surveys from mentors and program administrators.
Qualitative Reflections on mentoring experiences.
User Analytics to track engagement and course completion rates.
The QUADS Compass program aims to create a standardized, accessible, and effective mentorship training that prepares students for real-world mentoring.
By completing the training, mentors will gain confidence in their leadership abilities, develop effective communication strategies, and build cultural competency to support mentees from diverse backgrounds.
The program is expected to enhance the overall quality and consistency of mentorship experiences, ensuring that mentees receive structured, informed guidance.
Additionally, the program will provide Quinnipiac University with valuable analytics and feedback, allowing for continuous improvements and long-term impact measurement.
Developed a fully accessible and scalable online training course that meets mentorship needs.
Maintained a concise 90-minute format while covering all essential mentorship topics.
Integrated interactive and multimedia elements to engage learners effectively.
Received positive feedback from pilot testers, highlighting improved preparedness and confidence among mentors.
Create at least one original multimedia asset or detailed outline for the planned videos.
Incorporate grant funding information.
Improve mobile usability for better access across all devices.
Collect long-term impact data on mentor and mentee success to refine future iterations of the program.
© 2025 Kroxie & Co. LLC. All Rights Reserved.
