Bison Helping Bison: Mentoring & Networking

Bucknell’s greatest career advantage is the strength of the community we build around our students. Bison Helping Bison transforms that community into opportunity, connecting every Bucknellian with the mentors, experiences and relationships that can open doors and shape a meaningful career. When Bison invest in Bison, the impact extends far beyond a first job, creating a lifelong network of opportunity and support.”  

— Sean Schofield, Freeman Family Associate Vice President and Director of the Center for Career Advancement

Case for Support & Financial Overview

Every Bucknellian joins a network of alumni and parents who want to help. Bison Helping Bison makes sure every student can use it. 

Up to 80% of jobs are filled through networking, not job boards, yet 44% of Gen Z job seekers say a lack of professional connections is their greatest barrier to a first job. Bison Helping Bison closes that gap. Alumni, parents and fellow students mentor Bucknellians from before they arrive through their first year after graduation, opening doors to internships, micro-internships and first roles, and turning the Bison network into a lifelong advantage.

The goal: 100% of graduates in meaningful careers or graduate school within six months of graduation.

Every student. Every stage.

From day one: Student-to-student mentors help new Bucknellians navigate career services, coursework and leadership, and land their first internships.

Along the way: Alumni mentors share industry insight, map skills to roles and open direct pathways into specific companies, while career treks put students in front of employers in major cities.

At launch: Parent mentors bring executive-level perspective and mature professional networks, and a dedicated technology platform keeps every connection within reach after graduation.

Bucknellians launch with a network already working for them, built over five years and ready for a lifetime. 

What Your Gift Makes Possible

• A mentoring program. The multilevel Bison Helping Bison Mentoring Program pairs every student with student, alumni and parent mentors over four years, supported by a dedicated technology platform.
• Doors opened in major markets. Multiday career treks to New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and San Francisco, plus industry-themed career clusters, put students in front of alumni and employers on their home turf.
• Tools that keep the network connected. Digital platforms, including Hiration, uConnect, PathwayU and Protopia, put career exploration and alumni networking within easy reach.
•  An early start. The Sophomore Career MAP (Make a Plan) Conference connects students with mentors and a plan before junior year.

Recognition Opportunities

• Bison Helping Bison Mentoring Program: $500,000
• Career Off-campus Experience Fund & City Treks: $500,000
• Digital Technology Platforms: $200,000
• Sophomore Career MAP Conference: $25,000 annually