Mentoring is an active process where the mentor takes a holistic interest in developing
the graduate student's career and well-being.
Mentor(s) :
- Actively listen to their graduate student's concerns and in addition to supporting
the graduate student's academic excellence, they help the graduate student further
develop strengths, and work through challenges to advance professionally in the graduate
student's chosen career path.
- Act as role models and advocates.
- Are committed to helping graduate students by tailoring their mentoring style and
content, adjusting to differences in culture, ethnicity, gender and other differences
in the graduate student's experience.
- Are important to graduate students for the varied aspects of professional socialization, networking, personal support
and well-being that are crucial for their success not just during graduate school,
but even beyond.
Although graduate students have "official" advisor(s), it is greatly beneficial to
have a broad network of mentors. We highly recommend graduate students carefully select
a team of mentors with complementary strengths, appropriate for their academic, professional,
and personal growth and well-being. The Graduate Student Success Network worksheet is available to help students develop their network.
Mentoring Resources and Tools
- Advisor Recommendation Form - form for students to appoint or change a research advisor. New for fall 2024, it
aims to initiate and promote conversations for developing shared expectations between
the advisor and the graduate student. It is intended to establish/record what the relationship will accomplish, including measurable/tangible goals and milestones.
- Individual Development Plan (IDP) - An IDP helps graduate students outline accomplishments, short- and long-term training
plans, career goals, and identify strengths and areas of improvement. It is a very
helpful communication tool designed to facilitate discussions about academic plans,
paths and future career. It is intended to record how the student's goals will be accomplished.
- Graduate Student Success Network (GSSN) - Graduate students need a network to help facilitate their success. This worksheet
can help graduate students carefully identify, select and record individuals who will
help them succeed academically, professionally, and personally. (adapted from University
of Michigan)
Find a mentor and start a relationship
Since your advisor is also your supervisor (who grades and evaluates your progress)
it is a good idea to find other individuals to support your success. Having a team
of mentors may help you to achieve your professional goals and will provide support
and advice throughout your career.
Find a mentor who you think will help you achieve the goals you have set for yourself.
This might be someone in a position similar to one you'd like to have someday, or
a person you feel comfortable talking with. You can find a mentor by:
- Networking at Michigan Tech with faculty, staff, peers, and alumni
- Networking at professional meetings
- Connecting online to colleagues using social media like Linkedin or Google Scholar
- Networking with faculty, staff, and alumni from your alma mater
- Joining community organizations
Once you find an individual who might be a good mentor, schedule a time to meet and
talk to them privately. This is a time to:
- Talk about your career goals and how you think this individual might help you
- See if they are willing to be a mentor
- Determine how often they are able to meet with you
- Discuss whether (and how often) you can contact them on the phone or e-mail
- Explore suggestions for additional mentors
Every mentor will provide different expertise, but these are some things you might
expect or ask from a mentor:
- Professional feedback on your research and teaching
- Constructive critiques of papers or presentations
- Introductions to colleagues in your field
- Reference letters for job applications
- Respectful, supportive listening
- Keeping information discussed confidential
- Assistance navigating the paperwork and exams for graduate school
Be prepared when you meet with your mentor(s) to follow through on any promises you
make. Keep in mind that the relationship should be mutually beneficial. Follow up
with your mentor(s) on a regular basis so they know how your career is progressing.
Find opportunities to thank or assist your mentor as appropriate.
Sources
Articles from the Chronicle (search for mentoring), presentations by Stephanie Adams and Howard Adams.
Peer mentoring is mentoring that takes place between peers, for example, between or
among graduate students. When a new student arrives on campus, a peer mentor can help
by:
- welcoming the new student,
- giving the student a tour of the department and related facilities,
- introducing the student to faculty, staff, and other graduate students,
- taking the student to events specifically designed for graduate students (including
events hosted or sponsored by the University's Graduate Student Government),
- providing insight about departmental and University expectations for students,
- helping the student understand departmental and university policies,
- assisting the student in developing an understanding of the "culture" of the local
area,
- exposing the student to sources of support and resources for students, both on campus
and in the community,
- helping the student to get established in their new community (e.g., finding housing,
a bank, a physician, or childcare) and
- inviting the new student to participate in events (e.g., sports, concerts, lectures,
and social events).
Departments or programs can promote peer-mentoring in many ways, included those listed
below.
- establishing a formal peer-mentoring program with written guidelines and clearly articulated
expectations,
- initially hosting a workshop to introduce current students to the concept of mentoring
and the common expectations of participants in a peer-mentoring program (including
confidentiality),
- helping match current students with new students that have common interests
- identifying and notifying both returning and new students about who will mentor whom,
prior to the new students arrival on campus,
- bringing new and returning students together at the start of semesters and involving
them in structured and enjoyable activities to help them get to know one another,
and
- hosting a panel or forum in which experienced graduate students can address questions
posed by other graduate students (or even undergraduates).
Once a new student is fully engaged in her/his graduate program, the peer-mentor relationship
may become less formal but it still serves a purpose. Even students who are far along
in their graduate program find that having access to a peer mentor helps them to overcome
both academic and personal hurdles.
Career Resources on Campus
- Career Services- help with resume writing, presentation skills, mock interviews, etc.
- Career Fairs run by Career Services brings in hundreds of companies and organizations to campus
to meet and interview mostly MS students. PhDs can learn about companies.
- Career Fest brings in many companies to interact informally. Graduate students and post docs
interested in industry will benefit.
- Postdoc portal - facilitating matches between a consortium of universities and students looking
for postdoctoral positions.
- Virtual Career Fairs (from Career Services when available)
- Educate yourself – The following resources are helpful for students seeking academic
careers.
Bibliography
- Paglis, L.L., Green, S.G. & Bauer, T.N. Does adviser mentoring add value? A longitudinal study of mentoring and doctoral student
outcomes. Res High Educ 47, 451–476 (2006).
- The Science of Effective Mentorship in STEMM, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (2019).
- Mondisa, J. L., Packard, B. W. L., & Montgomery, B. L. Understanding what STEM mentoring ecosystems need to thrive: A STEM-ME framework. Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in Learning, 29(1), 110–135 (2021).
- Mentoring Guide for Faculty, Rackham Graduate School, University of Michigan
