Begin meetings with an opening for mentee to ask questions
Initiate and maintain contact
- Take the lead - mentees may have trouble initiating conversations if they are concerned about taking up too much of your time, so give your mentee lots of openings to connect and ask questions
- Follow up - check on progress
Recognize the whole person
- Helping new faculty feel welcomed/at home on our campus - especially important in hybrid work environment and for faculty who relocated for their position
- Check in on how they are settling in/balancing their responsibilities
- Recognize the power imbalance between mentors and mentees
Work to be aware of your own biases and how your identity and your mentee’s identity may have shaped your experiences and opportunities
Help foster other connections for your mentee
- When topics or questions come up that you don’t feel comfortable or equipped to provide support, help connect your mentee to others better positioned to provide what they need
Maintain confidentiality whenever possible
- Within reason, set expectations with your mentee about keeping conversations private. This will help mentees be able to speak freely and get their questions answered in a safe environment.
Provide honest feedback
Adapted from the Faculty Senate's Faculty Mentoring Guide and the UM ADVANCE Program's Giving and Getting Career Advice.
