Scholar and Mentor Commitment

Scholars who apply to The Ujima Mentoring Program will commit to participating in the following program activities:

  • Orientation – Our program consists of mentoring and the mutual support of participating scientists. To ensure a cohesive group and maximize our ability to work with you, we require that program participants attend the in-person or Zoom orientation, which is designed to introduce the Program, form a collaborative community, provide an opportunity for scholars to present on their proposed research project and mentorship plan, and get feedback.
  • Program Attendance - Our program includes the following components that ensure consistent, on-going mentoring and training throughout the 18-month program period. We require attendance and participation in: 
    • Monthly Check-in Calls – discuss scholar’s individual development plan (IDP) and research and career progress, troubleshoot challenges, provide support for scientific endeavors (e.g., building community partnerships, submitting NIH applications, etc.).
    • Quarterly webinars – facilitated discussions led by Ujima leadership and guest presenters from CAPS, ARCs, HBCUs, and other external institutions who have expertise in specified topic areas that address the needs and requests of Ujima mentoring teams. These may include emerging substantive topics, research methods in the HIV/AIDS literature, considerations for conducting ethical research with Black/African American communities, and methods for conducting community-engaged research as well as career development topics.
    • Peer Review – a mechanism for scholars to get input on grant proposals (concept and full proposals), manuscripts, conference presentations, and other materials before submission or presentation. 
    • Annual Workshops (Mid-cycle & Closeout) – scholars present on the progress of their research projects and have opportunities for networking.
  • Program Evaluation - Applicants must commit to completing the yearly evaluation form and return it to the program manager.
  • Progress Reporting - NIH, the sponsor of our program, requires us to provide annual progress reports that include up-to-date lists of our program participants’ publications and funded research grants. Therefore, once per year, we ask current and past participants in the program to send us an updated CV that includes an up-to-date list of publications and grant awards.
  • NIH Funding Acknowledgement - Applicants must commit to crediting the Ujima Program in publications resulting from the utilization of resources provided through the program, and by including the NIH funding acknowledgment in presentations and publications. Scholars must also comply with the NIH Public Access Policy.
  • Research Time - Applicants must commit sufficient time for carrying out the proposed research goals and objectives for the entire program period. This should be clearly delineated in both the institutional support letter and the research availability plan.

Faculty who agrees to mentor scholars:

  • Must attend the initial in-person or Zoom-based orientation meeting, participate in mentoring team check-in calls (quarterly), and be available to provide direct mentoring to scholars for the entire program period. Faculty mentors will also be invited to attend the UCSF Center for AIDS Research’s (CFAR’s) Mentoring the Mentors Training (MTM) Program, which is designed to increase research mentors’ skills with an emphasis on mentoring best practices with mentees from underrepresented backgrounds.
  • Will receive a $10,000 stipend to support their time for engaging in mentoring activities.