Russell Scholars will be assigned a faculty mentor who will guide the students through the difficult process of selecting courses and identifying learning opportunities during their academic careers.

Each Russell Scholar will tailor an individualized learning plan with the assistance of a faculty mentor, fellow students, and optional advisors from the greater Portland community. This learning plan will incorporate the requirements of the Scholar's major, serve as the basis of the Scholar's portfolio, and will contain the projected direction of formal and co-curricular study.