Advancing Mentoring in Research
Start Date
8-17-2022 12:00 AM
Description
Mentor/mentee relationships have a tremendous impact on graduate student well-being and in the productivity of faculty research. Effective mentoring of underrepresented students enhances retention in research career paths, diversifying the research environment. Most faculty learn how to mentor from having observed their own mentors and by experimenting and reflecting upon successes and failures. This process takes years to develop, and it takes awareness and reflection of how the unique background, qualities, skills, and challenges presented by each mentee affect the relationship. Skilled mentors are led by a reflective philosophy that involves aligning expectations, addressing equity and inclusion, and promoting the mentee's well-being, professional development, and independence.
In 2021, the presenters participated in a mentoring facilitator training program sponsored by the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER). Following the training, they created a mentoring circle with the goal to implement a pilot workshop series on advancing mentoring in research focusing on three elements of the mentoring curriculum. The pilot workshop series was offered in Spring 2022. In response to post-event feedback and reflections, the team is developing a plan for implementing the CIMER Mentoring curriculum as a year-long professional development experience for USU faculty. In this session, the team will share 1) insights from their mentorship training experience, 2) a snapshot of the CIMER curriculum focused on “Aligning Expectations”, and 3) a preview of a proposed academic-year long professional development program for faculty and graduate students in advancing mentoring.
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Advancing Mentoring in Research
Mentor/mentee relationships have a tremendous impact on graduate student well-being and in the productivity of faculty research. Effective mentoring of underrepresented students enhances retention in research career paths, diversifying the research environment. Most faculty learn how to mentor from having observed their own mentors and by experimenting and reflecting upon successes and failures. This process takes years to develop, and it takes awareness and reflection of how the unique background, qualities, skills, and challenges presented by each mentee affect the relationship. Skilled mentors are led by a reflective philosophy that involves aligning expectations, addressing equity and inclusion, and promoting the mentee's well-being, professional development, and independence.
In 2021, the presenters participated in a mentoring facilitator training program sponsored by the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER). Following the training, they created a mentoring circle with the goal to implement a pilot workshop series on advancing mentoring in research focusing on three elements of the mentoring curriculum. The pilot workshop series was offered in Spring 2022. In response to post-event feedback and reflections, the team is developing a plan for implementing the CIMER Mentoring curriculum as a year-long professional development experience for USU faculty. In this session, the team will share 1) insights from their mentorship training experience, 2) a snapshot of the CIMER curriculum focused on “Aligning Expectations”, and 3) a preview of a proposed academic-year long professional development program for faculty and graduate students in advancing mentoring.