Smathers Libraries Career Development Handbook
IV. C. Mentoring Program
Purpose/Goals
of program:
Assist new faculty in understanding and
navigating the T&P process; assist new faculty in understanding the
culture
of the libraries; provide staff members pursuing or holding a degree in
librarianship with adequate support in understanding the requirements
necessary
to secure a librarian position; provide a venue for seasoned faculty to
share their
knowledge and expertise with newer staff.
Eligibility
to become a mentor:
- Any tenured faculty is
eligible to be a
mentor for tenure-track faculty.
- Any faculty is eligible to be
a mentor for
non-tenure track faculty and staff members pursuing or holding a degree
in
librarianship.
Eligibility
to become a mentee:
- All tenure track faculty are
required to
participate in the Mentoring Program.
- All non-tenure track faculty
and staff
pursuing or holding a degree in librarianship may elect to participate
in the
mentoring program by completing a Mentor Request form.
Mentor
selection process:
- The selection of a mentor
will be made
jointly with input from the appropriate dean, department chair,
supervisor,
employee and HR representative.
Duration
of mentoring relationship:
- For tenure-track faculty the
mentoring
relationship will last until the mentee has submitted the T&P
packet.
- For non-tenure track faculty
and staff
pursuing or holding a degree in librarianship – the mentoring
relationship will
last 1 year with the option of renewal if requested.
Level
of interaction:
- The level of interaction
between a mentor
and mentee is flexible and is mutually agreed upon by each pair. It is
however
recommended that the participants meet at least once a month and
participate in
training opportunities provided through the Libraries’ Training program.
Feedback
mechanism:
- During the annual
faculty evaluation the supervisor
or
department chair will solicit feedback on how well the mentor/mentee
assignment
is working out. If it is determined that a new mentor/mentee pairing is
desired, the supervisor or department chair should contact the HR
Office to coordinate a change.
Formalizing
the program:
- For mentors the mentoring
relationship will
be considered Service to the Libraries and the Mentoring Agreement will
become
part of their annual activity report.
Forms
used:
- Mentoring agreement signed by both
mentor
and mentee including an option to request a reassignment.
- Mentor Request - for non-tenure faculty and staff pursuing or holding a degree in librarianship.
