How Departments Can Encourage Mentoring of Students

Assign a First Year Temporary Advisor. Assign new students a temporary faculty advisor until students and faculty can be paired, based on stated interests. Meet with advisees at least one a semester to review course selections, departmental requirements, and to answer questions that arise.

Peer Mentoring Programs: To ease the transition to student life, pair first year students with more advanced students who share similar interests.

Creating Community: To establish a collegial atmosphere in which students and faculty can interact informally, it is helpful to designate a space, such as a lounge for this purpose. Many departments also host social events to which graduate students, faculty, staff, and families are invited.

Professional Socialization: Invite student participation on departmental committees so students can learn how their discipline operates.

Develop a Mentoring Policy: A department can construct a written policy explicitly stating that mentoring is part of the educational experience graduates students receive in their programs.