Overview

The initiating phase gives the project formal approval and sets the foundation for all future work. It identifies why the project is needed and who is involved. 

  •  Develop a Project Charter

    • A short document that officially authorizes the project. It explains why the project is being created, what problem it aims to solve, and what outcomes are expected. The charter also identifies the project sponsor and gives the project manager permission to begin planning. 

  • Identify the Project Sponsor & Stakeholders 

    • The sponsor is the person or office that approves and supports the project. Stakeholders include anyone affected by the project or involved in delivering it. Identifying these individuals early ensures their needs, concerns, and expectations are understood from the start. 

  • Define the Purpose, Objectives, & Success Criteria 

    • Clarify why the project is necessary and what success will look like. Objectives should be specific, measurable, and realistic. Success criteria help determine whether the project accomplished what it was supposed to do. 

  • Confirm Feasibility & Resource Availability 

    • Before planning begins, check that staffing, time, budget, and space are available. This step reduces the chance of major issues later and ensures the project can realistically move forward. 

  • Project Charter 

    • A short charter is created outlining the purpose: to strengthen first-year student engagement and belonging through a new undergraduate mentoring program. 

    • The charter summarizes the area of need based on engagement survey results and retention data. 

  • Project Sponsor & Stakeholders 

    • Sponsor: Division of Student Life. 

    • Key stakeholders: faculty mentors, undergraduate students, student organizations, advising staff, and the program coordinator. 

  • Purpose, Objective, & Success Criteria 

    • Purpose: help students feel supported and connected on campus. 

    • Objectives: recruit at least 20 mentor-mentee pairs, provide a structured training program for mentors, and launch a one semester pilot.  

    • Success criteria: positive satisfaction ratings from participants, retention of 75% of mentor-mentee pairs throughout the semester, and a strong interest in continuing the program from participants.  

  • Feasibility & Resource Availability 

    • Staff availability and time commitments are reviewed and confirmed. 

    • A small budget is available for promotional materials and training events. 

    • Meeting spaces for orientations are available and reserved throughout the semester.