CALAment says: "For students, beginning a mentoring relationship while still in school will result in a greater insight into the profession and the discipline of architecture, landscape architecture or urban planning.  Likewise, the mentoring relationship welcomes professionals back into the academic setting as a teacher of sorts, and it encourages connections between academia and the design professions."  The following quotes provide insight into the vision and development of the program.

"Beyond the issues of building a student's competencies for practice, mentorship provides students with models of courage in practice---the courage to make important decisions; the courage to take significant risks; and the courage to make sustained commitments to one's passions in design and planning throughout ones professional life."
Dean Joseph Bilello

"As architects, we are committed to life-long learning building community including our own architectural community.  Our mentors helped us and we must help those who will follow us."
Deb Kunce, 2005 President, AIA Indianapolis

"The benefits of leadership and service to our profession present themselves best through mentoring.  The generosity of service is perhaps the most rewarding experience we have to offer one another.  Even the smallest donation of ourselves can make a difference in the path of another."
Jamie Lake, AIA---CAP Alumni Board President

"A mentor can help advise students on the nitty-gritty issues they might expect to encounter in the professional world, outside of the idealized environment of academia."
Jennifer Milliken, AICP---CAP Alumni Board Vice-president