The OMA Columbia Mentoring Initiative (CMI) is an inter-generational mentorship program that connects first-year students (mentees) with returning students (mentors), and all students with alumni. In addition to program-wide events and activities for all participants, students have the opportunity to get involved in various "family trees": 

Arab and Middle Eastern; Asian; Black; Indigenous; Latinx; LGBTQ; International; and Mixed Heritage.

For first-year students, CMI focuses on the adjustment to Columbia University and college life.  The mentors and “family” members will emphasize leadership development, identity development, emotional health, academic success, belonging, and community consciousness.

CMI is an outgrowth of the Alumni of Color Outreach Program (ACOP). ACOP was created in 1996 by Columbia College students, alumni and administrators who were eager to find ways to increase the involvement of alumni of color in the life of Columbia and to provide additional support for students of color.

Today, the program is administered by the Office of Multicultural Affairs and actively connects with Columbia’s alumni affinity associations: ACAA (Asian Columbia Alumni Association), BAC (Black Alumni Council), Columbia Pride (for LGBTQ alumni), and LAACU (Latino Alumni Association of Columbia University).  CMI offers students the opportunity to be mentored by Columbia alumni from a wide range of career fields and the chance to participate in a variety of alumni–student events including Heritage Month receptions, intimate dinner–discussion programs, and site visits to alumni worksites.

For more: Columbia Mentoring Initiative