Code of Conduct for the American Muslim Professional Society Mentoring Program

Last Updated: July  2023

The American Muslim Professional Society (AMPS) Mentoring Program (“the Program”) aims to foster healthy, effective, and beneficial mentoring relationships for Muslim Americans. This Code of Conduct outlines the obligations of mentors and mentees participating in the Program. If you have any questions, please email mentoring@ampsonline.org.

Confidentiality

1. Mentors and mentees agree that all written and oral information exchanged during the mentoring relationship is confidential, unless otherwise stated. This confidentiality extends beyond the duration of the mentoring relationship.

Financial Compensation or Requests

2. Neither mentors nor mentees will receive financial compensation or expense reimbursement for their participation in the Program.
3. Mentors are strictly prohibited from charging mentees for advice or guidance. Mentees must not seek financial assistance, loans, or personal financial support from mentors under any circumstances. Any requests for money must be reported to the AMPS Mentoring Team and may result in termination from the Program.
4. The American Muslim Professional Society does not provide funding to Program participants for any reason.

Ethical Code

5. Mentors and mentees must respect each other’s boundaries, commitments, and engagements, ensuring they do not overstep these boundaries unreasonably.
6. The mentoring relationship must not be exploitative. Both parties must show mutual respect.
7. Mentors and mentees must not display any prejudice based on race, religion, gender identity, sex, age, disability, ethnicity, national origin, etc. Any proven acts of prejudice will result in immediate termination from the Program.
8. While friendships may develop, mentors and mentees should maintain a clear mentoring relationship, separating personal biases from professional actions. Confidentiality, objectivity, and equal partnership should be upheld. Participants are advised not to disclose detailed experiences of being in the Program until after graduation.

Program Commitments

9. Mentors and mentees must commit to the minimum meeting time required for each phase of the Program, as outlined in the program commitments.
10. Mentors and mentees must have open and truthful communication about their relationship, evaluating its effectiveness periodically.
11. Mentors and mentees will receive requests to complete feedback questionnaires within specified deadlines to progress and graduate from the Program.
12. Mentors and mentees must respond promptly to all communications from the AMPS Mentoring Team when a reply is requested.
13. Mentees and mentors who fulfill the program requirements, including completing feedback questionnaires and meeting regularly, will be designated as AMPS Mentors/Mentees. Sharing more detailed experiences of being in the Program should be reserved until after graduation.

Roles within the Mentoring Relationship

14. Mentees should take an active role in the Program, scheduling meetings, setting agendas, and sharing their goals.
15. Mentors should respond to the mentees’ goals and agenda, avoiding imposing their own agenda.

End of the Mentoring Relationship

16. Either party may dissolve the relationship if it is not achieving its intended goal. However, they must discuss any issues with their mentoring partner before doing so. The Mentoring Team is available to provide support if needed.
17. Mentors and mentees share the responsibility of winding down the relationship smoothly once its purpose has been fulfilled, avoiding dependency.
18. Upon successful completion of all Program requirements, mentees and mentors will receive an official participation certificate and may use the title of AMPS Mentor/Mentee Alumni.

Advice

19. Mentees are not obligated to strictly adhere to the guidance provided by mentors. However, mentees have a responsibility to carefully consider and evaluate the guidance given to them.
20. Each mentee acknowledges that their participation in the Program require them to seek relevant professional advice before making any specific career-related decisions. Any advice or information provided by a mentor should not be solely relied upon as a substitute for professional advice.
21. Each mentor accepts no responsibility or legal liability for any advice or information shared or provided to mentees during the mentoring relationship and Program participation. Mentors agree not to exploit their mentees’ business plans or ideas for personal gain or profit.

Safety

22. If a mentee expresses concerns that the mentor deems outside the scope of the mentoring relationship or if a mentor becomes generally concerned about their mentee’s well-being, they should promptly inform the Mentoring Team. The Mentoring Team will respond within three working days and, whenever possible, provide guidance to relevant support networks within the mentee’s country.

Complaints

23. The American Muslim Professional Society (AMPS) has a complaints procedure that all participants can You can email mentoring@ampsonline.org to explain the issue you’re experiencing. The AMPS administrators will provide support within three working days to address the issue.   

   All complaints will be treated with the utmost confidentiality, and permission will be obtained before sharing the complaint with anyone within or outside of the AMPS team. Filing a complaint will not adversely affect your treatment in the Program.