This Task Force put its efforts into developing a thorough understanding of the transitional issues facing students at Berkeley, and then identifying ways in which those transitions might be more positively influenced. Not all initiatives are started by the faculty or administration. Undergraduates interested in taking advantage of the mentoring component of the program can join a mentoring group consisting of four to five of their peers, which is informally led by a woman graduate student.
Groups meet every week or two, and the meetings are structured to meet the members' needs.
Mentor groups engage in a wide variety of activities, from working problem sets and studying for exams to visiting local science museums and taking laboratory tours. Mentors advise mentees on what courses to take, how to apply to graduate school, how to secure a research position, and similar issues. The program has already doubled in size. Special events hosted by SWPS attract anywhere from thirty to 250 attendees.