Abstract

Students in the University of Cincinnati's School of Information Technology lacked a structured, university backed system for securing consistent mentorship beyond informal networking and advising. UC ConnectIT was developed to address this gap by creating a web-based platform that connected students with verified mentors for academic and professional guidance. The system enabled students, alumni, graduate students, and industry professionals to create profiles and be matched based on shared academic interests, career goals, and technical skills using a transparent, rule-based matching approach. The platform was implemented using React for the user interface, Node.js with Express for backend services, and PostgreSQL for data management, with secure authentication supported through OAuth. Development followed an agile methodology emphasizing accessibility, ethical data governance, and iterative user feedback. Outcomes included a functional prototype, defined user workflows, survey-informed design decisions, and a scalable technical architecture.