What is mentoring?

Faculty mentoring is a powerful tool for professional development that fosters personal growth, skill enhancement, and career progression and support the success and retention of faculty members. Mentoring involves a more experienced faculty member (mentor) guiding a less experienced colleague (mentee), offering insights, support, and knowledge. Mentoring can take various forms, such as:

  • Traditional Mentoring: A one-on-one relationship where a senior faculty member guides a junior colleague.
  • Peer Mentoring: Involves colleagues at similar career stages providing mutual support.
  • Team Mentoring: Multiple mentors provide diverse perspectives and collective wisdom.

Mentoring is helpful for faculty development at every career stage. Mentoring needs and strategies change throughout the different stages of a faculty member's career from New Faculty, Early Career, Mid-Career, to Late Career (Senior Faculty).

Research Mentoring:

Provide guidance on grant writing and publishing.
  • Goal Setting: Schedule consistent meetings to discuss research progress, troubleshoot challenges, and set realistic short-term and long-term goals. These meetings can help mentees stay on track and receive timely feedback. 
  • Grant Writing: Provide advice and feedback on grant writing, including identifying funding opportunities, crafting compelling proposals, and understanding the review process. Mentors can share their successful grant applications as examples. 
  • Publishing: Offer guidance on structuring and writing manuscripts and responding to reviewer comments. Share tips on crafting compelling abstracts, introductions, and discussions. Assist in identifying appropriate journals for their research. 

Teaching Mentoring:

Offer support in course design, pedagogy, student engagement, and assessment strategies.
  • Classroom Observations: Mentors can observe mentees' teaching sessions and provide constructive feedback on their teaching methods, student engagement, and classroom management. This can be followed by a debriefing session to discuss observations and suggestions. 
  • Teaching Workshops: Encourage mentees to attend workshops on various aspects of teaching, such as curriculum design, assessment strategies, and incorporating technology in the classroom. 
  • Student Feedback: Encourage mentees to gather and reflect on student feedback to improve their teaching practices. Mentors can guide them on how to interpret feedback and implement changes effectively. 

Service Mentoring:

Help faculty understand and contribute to university, professional, and community service opportunities.
  • Committee Assignments: Introduce mentees to various service roles within the department, college, and university. Provide insights into the workings of these committees and the expectations involved. 
  • Professional Development: Recommend workshops, seminars, and conferences focused on academic service and leadership. Mentors can guide mentees on how to get involved, such as presenting at conferences or taking on leadership roles. 
  • Community Engagement: Support mentees in identifying and participating in community service opportunities that align with their interests and expertise. This can enhance their sense of social responsibility and professional fulfillment.