Announcing the SRCD Teaching Mentorship Program
The SRCD Teaching Committee is excited to announce the SRCD Teaching Mentorship Program, developed in cooperation with the Student & Early Career Council (SECC). The purpose of the program is to assist novice or early-career teachers in navigating faculty life through developing a relationship with a more experienced faculty member, or mentor, from another institution. The mentor will serve as a resource for teaching ideas and feedback and a guide for managing interactions with students, other faculty, and administrators. The mentee will bring his or her fresh energy and ideas to the relationship as well, allowing reciprocal benefit for both mentor and mentee.
We seek mentors and mentees to participate in the program. Mentors and mentees will be given special recognition at the SRCD Teaching Institute in addition (tentatively) to a special session devoted toward this new program during which mentors and mentees can meet with each other.
Mentorship Application - Deadline was February 17, 2013. Thank you to all that applied for the second round! Decision notifications will be sent out early March.
Program Guidelines:
Who can be a Mentor?
- Any SRCD member with tenure or 7 years of experience in an academic position in a non-tenure track position.
- Individual is willing to commit to mentoring 1 year and follow program expectations
Who can be a Mentee?
- Any SRCD graduate student member or early career member in their first 5 years post-Ph.D., or any SRCD member without prior teaching experience, who has current teaching assignments
- Preference to be given to those individuals who expect to be on job market in the next 2 years, currently on the job market, or currently teaching in a junior faculty capacity
- Has endorsement from graduate faculty member/research advisor/department chair. Letter of recommendation that focuses on teaching experiences, abilities, and potential.
How are mentor and mentee matched?
Both fill out a short survey instrument. The Teaching Committee will match each mentee with a mentor, and send contact information for each person via email.
What is the length of formal commitment?
One year (pairs can agree to extend if mutually agreeable)
What are the expectations of mentors and mentees?
The minimum expectations are as follows:
- Introductory 1-hour phone or video conversation (or in-person meeting, if possible) to introduce selves, identify the specific questions or issues to focus on for the year. This should take place sometime in the fall.
- Periodic email exchanges. Video conferencing or phone calls throughout the winter/spring with a minimum of one contact per month. However, conversations should take place as often as needed in order to sustain the relationship and assist the mentee in strengthening his or her teaching. Feedback on teaching observations (video-recorded or in-person as possible) is also encouraged.
- Closing conversation of about 1-hour at the end of the mentee’s first year.
- Program participants will fill out program evaluation form after 1-year commitment has been reached
Additional stipulations:
- Mentor and mentee agree to honor confidentiality of information exchanged.
- Mentor agrees NOT to serve as a tenure or promotion evaluator of mentee.
- Mentors and mentees are invited to share information and resources reciprocally—including such things as syllabi, course materials, ideas for class activities, videotaped lectures; etc.
For more information regarding the program, please contact Karen Brakke at kbrakke@spelman.edu. If you experience any issues or have questions regarding the application form, please contact Casey Irelan at teachingmentors@srcd.org.