Faculty and Graduate Student Mentoring Program

Faculty and Graduate Student Mentoring Program

The Faculty and Graduate Mentoring ProgramÕs goals are to increase the recruitment and retention of women graduate students. The program provides information through seminars, panel discussions, and advising; dispels myths about graduate school; and provides role models. Some of the events focus on the development of a supportive community, where other events emphasize development of an intellectual community.

The Faculty Graduate Mentoring Program promotes mentoring relationships between female graduate students and faculty members. The programÕs goals are to:

• Use faculty expertise for the personal and professional development of students,
• Provide female graduate students with personal and career guidance,
• Increase the retention of female graduate students in ADVANCE departments, and
• Prepare students with a realistic perspective of the faculty career path.

Graduate students are paired to faculty members with similar research interests and career paths. A unique aspect of the mentoring program is the training and support provided to the mentoring pairs. In 1998 the Center for Workforce Development/WISE received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Engineering and Mathematics Mentoring for The Curriculum for Training Mentors and Mentees in Science and Engineering and its mentoring programs. The entire curriculum is available for purchase as a book from WEPAN, contact wiep@ecn.purdue.edu for an order form. The Curriculum for Training Mentors and Mentees in Science and Engineering includes:

• An administrator's guide with a comprehensive curriculum
• Individual handbooks for students, faculty, professional scientists and engineers
• A stand-alone bibliography of resources
• A stand-alone evaluation module
• A video of scenarios depicting mentoring relationships
• A facilitated guide for group discussion

The content is comprehensive and covers a multitude of topics including:

1. Overview
   1. Purpose
   2. Need for Training Mentors and Mentees
   3. A Working Definition of Mentoring
   4. Content of A Curriculum for Training Mentors and Mentees
   5. Strategies for Delivering Training
   6. Determining Your Needs for Training
   7. Summary
   8. References
   9. Forms
2. Conducting Training Sessions
   1. Introduction
   2. Resources: Physical and Human
   3. Delivering Training
   4. Summary
   5. References
   6. Forms
3. Core
   1. Introduction
   2. The Mentor and Mentee Handbooks
   3. The Goals of Mentoring and Training Mentors and Mentees
   4. Benefits to the Mentors and Mentees
   5. Responsibilities of Mentors and Mentees
   6. Expectations
   7. Guidelines for Mentoring
   8. Types of Mentoring Relationships
   9. Mentoring Challenges: Stereotypes, Biases, and Discrimination
   10. Navigating a Cross-Gender Mentoring Relationship
   11. Navigating a Cross-Racial Mentoring Relationship
   12. Potential Pitfalls and Helpful Hints
   13. Resources: Where and When to Go for Help
   14. Periodic Assessment by Mentors and Mentees
   15. Summary
   16. References
   17. Forms
4. Complementary Curriculum
   1. Faculty Mentoring Graduate Students
   2. Interpersonal Communication
   3. How to Set-Up a Mentoring Program
5. Evaluation
   1. Introduction
   2. Reasons for Evaluating
   3. Benefits of Evaluation
   4. Types of Evaluation
   5. Selecting an External Evaluator
   6. Administering the Pre-Designed Evaluation Questionnaires
   7. Summary
   8. References
   9. Forms
6. Bibliography
7. Appendices
   1. Appendix A: Student Mentee Handbook
   2. Appendix B: Professional Mentor Handbook
   3. Appendix C: Faculty Mentor Handbook
   4. Appendix D: Video Guide
   5. Appendix E: Overheads
8. Video

The curriculum includes a special section on faculty mentoring graduate students. The curriculum is used to help faculty and students develop clear expectations and goals for the mentoring relationship. In addition to the training, the mentoring pairs are invited to workshops and events on academic, professional and personal development.

Faculty and Graduate Student Mentoring Program