SRU invites alumni to enter Lattus professional mentorship platform
Slippery Rock University is now using a professional networking and mentorship platform called Lattus to connect alumni with each other and with students.
Nov. 2, 2021
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. — Slippery Rock University is looking for a few good mentors. Earlier this fall, SRU's Office of Alumni Engagement and Office of Career Education and Development partnered to introduce Lattus, a new professional networking and mentorship platform, for SRU alumni and students. Lattus is a third-party service founded by Butler native Pete Schramm in 2018 that facilitates conversations within the application, while also providing scheduling, notes, feedback and discussion topics.
"Mentorship is very important," said Kelly Bailey, SRU director of alumni engagement. "We often hear from alumni that there's been someone who has guided or influenced them during their time as a student. For our alumni, this is an easy way to get engaged in supporting our students by sharing their talents and their time. Our alumni are grateful for their experience here, and by positively impacting a current student, this can be a great way for them to pay it forward."
Earlier this fall, Alumni Engagement sent emails to it its members inviting them to join Lattus, and so far, more than 200 alumni have signed up. Once the SRU network continues to develop within Lattus, CED will begin encouraging students to enroll, beginning with selected classes who professors partner with the CED to incorporate professional mentorship in their classes.
"We see the value of having our students work with our alumni because the alumni have come from similar areas as students and they have gone on to accomplish big and exciting things in their careers," said Renee Coyne, associate director of career education and development. "Our alumni have moved into different parts of the country and have already cleared some of the hurdles of trying a new job or new location, and they've built upon their SRU education that has allowed them to grow professionally and personally. Through mentorship with alumni, our students get to see just how far their degree can take them and pursue opportunities."
Bailey said that alumni can benefit by networking with one another through Lattus as well. She said the platform is better than social media networks because of the scheduling and discussion topic functionality. For example, a mentor could set their own "office hours" where they are free to talk about a particular aspect of their job that may be of interest to others.
"Sometimes mentoring develops into a long relationship or sometimes it's just a simple request for information," Bailey said. "What's great about Lattus is the alumni can set their availability and students can have the confidence that these people in these areas they are curious about, are willing to talk. With LinkedIn, you never know if someone's accessible or even actively using it."
SRU alumni who would like to participate are asked to complete an online survey, after which their information will be entered into a screening process for inclusion into SRU's Lattus network, and once confirmed they will receive a welcome email with further instructions.
SRU alumni seeking more information can contact Bailey at 724.738.4223 or kelly.bailey@sru.edu. Students and faculty seeking more information about student participation can contact Coyne at 724.738.2127 or renee.coyne@sru.edu.
More information about Lattus is available at lattus.com.
MEDIA CONTACT: Justin Zackal | 724.738.4854 | justin.zackal@sru.edu