Additional Mentorship
Tips
Help

Utah Tech University

Mentorship for New Faculty Members

Mentee Benefits

There are many benefits to having a mentor, especially at the beginning of your journey as a UT Faculty. Some of these benefits include:

  • Free Lunch provided at the Mentorship Luncheon – This event is sponsored by the Faculty Senate, and will introduce you to the Provost, New Faculty Seminar Committee and Faculty Affairs. An overview of the onboarding process and resources are discussed at this lunch.
  • Increased Opportunities – Having a mentor can give you more opportunities to develop professionally and personally. Your Mentor can introduce you to resources and help you network with others at UT and beyond. They can also assist you in learning about and attending various events and conferences both on campus and off.
  • Knowledge and Direction – Your mentor will be a great source of knowledge for you when you begin to navigate life at the university. They can provide help and support, teach you about the organization and culture at UT, and can offer you help and answers to question you may have about your department.

Roles, Responsibilities, and Tips

Your responsibility as a mentee is to make sure that this time benefits both you and your mentor. In order to accomplish this, use the following tips:

  • Inform your mentor about you and your goals ahead of time, so that you can plan together on what you would like to accomplish with the mentorship
  • Set goals and boundaries together with your mentor
  • Make time to meet regularly with your mentor
  • Respect mentor’s time by preparing for each meeting/interaction ahead of time
  • Be willing and open to learn and listen, and Ask for help or feedback when you need it
  • Email a summary of your meetings, or keep important notes in a mentoring journal
  • Take advantage of the opportunities presented such as university events, classroom observations, seminars, etc.
  • Take time to recognize your mentor for their work and contributions by sharing how you’ve used your mentor’s advice

Additional Mentorship

Though you are only assigned one mentor by the university, there are still many areas in which mentorship can benefit you. Take the time to seek out multiple mentors throughout the different areas of the university.

Department Mentor

This is the mentor officially assigned to you by your department, with which you will be doing the majority of your mentorship with during your first semester. This mentor is here to be a general mentor to you, and introduce you to life at the university. They will also be helpful in training you in departmental procedures and affairs.

Research Mentor

While research isn’t at the foremost of a new faculty’s duties, It can be helpful to have a research mentor to help you learn about the projects and procedures for doing research at the university. The Undergraduate Research Office keeps an updated list of current research projects fostered by faculty. Contacting and helping these faculty is the perfect way to learn about the research you will need to complete in the future.

Research Mentors

Teaching Mentor

Another area that benefits from additional mentorship is teaching. Teaching mentors can help by going over lesson plans, offering to sit in on classes, allow you to observe their own classes, and connecting you to the various resources available for teaching help on campus. A great way to meet learning mentors is through the faculty learning communities that are organized through the Center for Teaching and Learning. Contact CTL below to join a community.

CTL Learning Communities

Outside
Mentor

Other than your department mentor, it is important to have a Non-Department Mentor. This mentor can help you to get a wider view of the university and its culture as a whole.

How can we help you?

Because your role is so important as a new UT faculty, the Office of Faculty Affairs and the New Faculty Seminar Committee are deeply interested in your success. Please contact Dr. Bruce Harris, Associate Provost for the Office of Faculty Affairs, at 435-879-4638  for support or help with mentoring.

References:

Johnson, B. W. (2015). On Being a Mentor: A Guide for Higher Education Faculty (2nd Edition). Routledge.

Phillips, S. L., Dennison, S. T., & Cox, M. D. (2015). Faculty Mentoring: A Practical Manual for Mentors, Mentees, Administrators, and Faculty Developers. Stylus Publishing.

Stone, T. (2018). A Pocket Guide to Mentoring Higher Education Faculty: Making the Time, Finding the Resources. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.

A copy of all the books above can be accessed through the office of Faculty Affairs. To borrow a copy, contact Tralei Casaus at tralei.casaus@utahtech.edu or through phone at 435-879-4508.