Staff Mentoring Resources

Professional and Scientific, Merit and Merit-Exempt staff make critical contributions to the educational mission and vitality of the UI campus.  New staff, or staff seeking career advancement, can benefit greatly from the insights of senior staff. All staff can serve the University and the larger community by mentoring fellow staff, students, and community members. Experience and research show that well-organized mentoring programs can help University employees realize their own personal and professional goals and can significantly aid in the recruitment and retention of a highly skilled, committed, creative and diverse staff.

University of Iowa Staff Mentoring Programs

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• Advanced Management Series. The Advanced Management Series is a program designed to support managers who are ready to achieve the next level of professional development.  The program engages a group discussion and learning environment. Focused topics and resources are provided to enhance management skill and ability. Additionally, each participant's own supervisor is involved in the process to share insight, performance objectives, and support.
• Career Development Advising Service.
• Health Care Information Systems. Senior staff mentor internal desktop staff, and guide them toward reclassification to System Administrator status. For more information, contact Phyllis Jacobsen, Health Care Information Systems.
• Office of Admissions. New Admissions Counselors and Assistant Directors receive extensive training and mentoring from experienced counselors. Staff also serve as mentors to student volunteers involved in the STAR program. For more information, contact Kathy Bassett, Senior Associate Director of Admissions.
• Professional Development Internship Program. The University of Iowa's commitment to professional development and equal opportunity is exemplified by the Professional Development Internship Program for UI staff members. The program enables participants to gain insight and experience in areas that interest them, but differ from their current work responsibilities. This flexible program is free, and can be adapted to fit your career goals.
• Professional Development Resources.  UI Learning and Development is the central office for professional development and acts as a clearinghouse for much of the professional development that occurs on campus.
• UI LEAD.  UI LEAD engages the individual participant, providing focused attention and resources to enhance leadership skill and ability. Additionally, each participant’s own supervisor or faculty administrator is involved in the process to share insight, performance objectives, and support.
• University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC).  Several staff mentoring programs exist in the UIHC. Social Service assigns a mentor to each new staff member.  Staff in Rehabilitation Services can serve as mentors to students through job shadowing programs.  For more information about these and other UIHC staff mentoring programs, contact Diana Leventry, Director, Hospital Human Resources.

Other campus organizations that offer informal mentoring and networking opportunities include:

• African American Council
• Asian American Council
• Council on Disability Awareness
• Council on the Status of Latinos
• Council on the Status of Women
• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Staff and Faculty Association

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Resources at Other Institutions

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• Indiana University - Office of Mentoring Services and Leadership Development.  OMSLD mentoring services and initiatives will represent a comprehensive and developmental approach to understanding and enhancing the quality of undergraduate life and learning. Students, faculty, and staff will be encouraged to participate in a variety of initiatives supporting personal, social, cultural, academic, leadership, and professional growth. Finally, through unique contributions to the campus community and to student life, the OMSLD will be representative of the highest quality University efforts to create a stronger and more diverse campus community, better prepare students for life and work in a diverse and global society, and support a common future founded in enhanced achievement and success for all.
• Michigan State University - M.E.N.T.O.R.S. - Centrally Supported Mentoring Program.  M.E.N.T.O.R.S. ("mentoring enhances networking, teaching, organizational renewal, and success") features the matching of mentors and mentees from different areas of campus, or within the same unit. Human Resource Development provides centralized support and coordination. M.E.N.T.O.R.S. features include matching of less senior or experienced staff with those who are more senior or experienced. Matches may occur between individuals from the same or different units on campus.
• University of Illinois - Asian American Cultural Center Mentoring Program. A staff, faculty, student, and community mentoring program for Asian American students.
• University of Wisconsin
  
  
  • Academic Staff Mentoring Program.  The Academic Staff Mentoring Program promotes professional and personal development among all academic staff by connecting them with others who can advise, coach, and guide them, as well as help them understand the context in which they are operating. Any academic staff member can be a mentor or a mentee and some people have been both at the same time. The program is designed for both new and continuing academic staff with goals developed to meet individual needs. Within the program, mentoring pairs design their own plans, with various durations and meeting commitments. Since 1997, over 400 pairs of academic staff have participated in the mentoring program.
  • Handbook for Faculty and Staff Leadership Mentors (pdf).

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