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mentee·Matching

Joining a Group or Circle

How mentees request to join an open mentoring group or peer circle, and what happens while the request waits for approval.

If your program offers group mentoring or peer circles, you can ask to join one that is open. A group has one mentor and several mentees. A circle is a peer group of mentees. Joining is a request: you become a member only after someone approves it.

Note

The Browse Groups and Browse Circles tabs appear on the Matches page only if you are a mentee and your admin has turned on that format. If you do not see them, ask your program admin. See Matching Formats.

Request to join a group

  1. Open Matches in the sidebar.
  2. Click the Browse Groups tab.
  3. Find a group. Each card shows the group title, who leads it, a short description, and how many members it has out of its maximum, such as "3 / 8 members".
  4. Click Join.

MentorStack confirms that your request is sent and waiting for the mentor or an admin to approve it. The group then leaves your Browse Groups list, because you have already asked to join it.

If no group is open, the tab says "No open groups available to join right now."

Request to join a circle

  1. Open Matches in the sidebar.
  2. Click the Browse Circles tab.
  3. Find a circle. Each card shows the circle title, a short description, its members, and how many pending requests it has.
  4. Click Request to Join.

MentorStack shows "Join request sent. An admin will review it shortly." The card then shows a Requested badge. A circle that has reached its maximum shows Circle full instead of a button.

If no circle is open, the tab says "No open circles available to join right now."

Who approves your request

  • Groups: the group's mentor or an admin approves or declines it.
  • Circles: an admin approves or declines it.

Approvers see a Pending requests list on the match overview, with Approve and Decline buttons next to each name.

Warning

A pending request gives you no access. You cannot see messages, meetings, goals, or attachments in the group or circle until your request is approved.

When a request fails

  • You have already requested to join this group or circle: your earlier request is still waiting.
  • You are already in this group, or You are already a member of this circle: nothing more to do.
  • This group is full or This circle has reached its maximum capacity: pick another one.
  • This group's mentor has reached their capacity: the mentor's limit on active mentees is full. Try again later or choose another group.
  • Only mentees can join a group: groups accept requests from members with the mentee role.

Note

On the Free Pilot, each member can hold 2 active matches at a time. Starter and above have no per-person limit. At the Free Pilot limit, a group request fails with a plan-limit message, and an admin cannot approve a circle request until you have room. Complete or end a match first. See Pausing, Completing or Ending a Match.

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