Exploring Mentorship in Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates (REEU) Programs Focused in Agri-food Systems

This research aimed to explore the importance of mentorship from the perspectives of mentees in a REEU program focused on circularity in agri-food systems. We used a case study design that included all students ( N = 9) who participated in this REEU during the Summer of 2024. A focus group was conducted during the final week of the program. We identified seven themes that contributed to how participants conceptualized the role of mentorship: (a) Guidance and Support in Mentorship, (b) Multi-Level and Multi-Tiered Relationships, (c) Independence and Personal Growth, (d) Effective Communication, (e) Challenges and Adaptability, (f) Preparation for Future Careers, and (g) Importance of Informal Learning Experiences. Facilitators of REEU and similar programs can find our results helpful in examining how they approach mentoring. Our findings show how Social Cognitive Theory can be applied to examine the critical part that mentors play in the environment in which students learn. Our discovery of multi-tiered mentorship shows the complexity of learning environments. Our study examines a novel multi-disciplinary REEU program focused on circularity in agri-food systems. Our research presents an original view by looking at mentorship in multidisciplinary programs.