Mentor Resources
Most mentors report personal satisfaction and fulfillment, are often creatively inspired by their mentees, have increased networking due to their involvement with students, are motivated to stay current in their field, and mentoring relationships often result in lifelong friendships. (Johnson, 2007)
Intentional Mentoring
- Building trust is key to effective mentoring relationships.
- For an effective experience, the mentor and mentee should establish agreed upon norms for their relationship.
- An effective mentor is one who is engaged, authentic, open, and communicates clear expectations.
- It can be dangerous to assume that students have knowledge of or access to resources.
- Consistent and frequent communication will strengthen your mentoring relationship.
Resources for Intentional Mentoring
- AGU Webinars: Get the most out of your mentoring relationships: Be an engaged mentee and Building successful mentoring relationships as a mentor
- Sharing information on professional skills is an easy first step in your mentoring relationship. Consider using topics such as these in meetings with your mentee: Informational Interviews, Elevator Speeches, Digital Organization, and Resumes, CVs, and Cover Letters (all PDFs)
- Connecting students to professionals in different careers in the discipline helps students see opportunities and expand their network. Organizing a Career Circle (PDF)
- Professional Development for Community College Faculty: Lessons Learned from Intentional Mentoring Workshops (PDF)
- The Geoscience Career Spotlight series highlights the variety of careers available to geoscience majors in addition to academia. This YouTube playlist includes individual interviews (each under 3 minutes) and can be viewed on UNAVCO's YouTube page.
Why Mentor?
- Mentoring is an activity that can have a life-changing impact on students.
- A mentor is a person who is a trusted adviser, confidant, and supporter who can guide a less-experienced person.
- Mentoring provides mentees with a resource that goes beyond an academic advisor.
- Diversity in mentors (multiple mentors) provides students with a breadth of input and guidance on different aspects of their academic training and career.
- Peer and near-peer mentoring can provide scaffolded mentoring for people at various academic and professional levels.
- Mentors help shape self-perception and attitudes of community college students and influence academic performance.
- Intentional mentoring can be particularly critical for fostering success in community college students and students from historically underrepresented groups.
Additional Resources
- Structuring the Mentoring Relationship - Worksheet (PDF)
- Mentoring Agreement (PDF)
- Council on Undergraduate Research's Five Effective Strategies for Mentoring Undergraduates: Students' Perspectives
- Running an REU? NSF-funded resources are available at the NCAR/UCAR hosted GEO REU Center
- Mentoring tips from the SOARS program at UCAR
- From IRIS: 6 Steps you can take as a mentor to ensure that you and your intern have a great, productive summer!
The term "mentoring" as it's used in higher education is not well defined. References you may find helpful:
- Crisp, G. (2010). The impact of mentoring on the success of community college students. The Review of Higher Education, 34(1), 39-60.
- de Janasz, S. C., & Godshalk, V. M. (2013). The role of e-mentoring in protégés’ learning and satisfaction. Group & Organization Management, 38(6), 743-774.
- Diegel, B. L. (2013). Perceptions of community college adjunct faculty and division chairpersons: Support, mentoring, and professional development to sustain academic quality. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 37(8), 596-607.
- Galbraith, J. M. (2012). Shepherding undergraduate students through a research experience and a professional meeting. NACTA Journal, 56(2), 76.
- Huntoon, J. E., & Lane, M. J. (2007). Diversity in the geosciences and successful strategies for increasing diversity. Journal of Geoscience Education, 55(6), 447-457.
- Jacobi, M. (1991). Mentoring and undergraduate academic success: A literature review. Review of educational research, 61(4), 505-532.
- Johnson, W. B. (2015). On being a mentor: A guide for higher education faculty. Routledge.
- Pope, M. L. (2002). Community college mentoring: Minority student perception. Community College Review, 30(3), 31-45.
- Sadia, S., Khan, R. A., Rauf, R., Shaheen, A., & Waqar, F. (2014). Ideal Mentor-Perceptions of Faculty and Students. JIMC Journal of Islamic Internations Medical College, 3-6.
Last modified: 2020-05-14 18:16:49 America/Denver