Guidelines for Academic Mentoring
The School expects that experienced academic staff mentor colleagues, particularly those in the early
stages of their career. Mentors are expected to give informal and frequent advice, help identify
solutions to problems, share relevant academic experiences, and to be available to provide a ‘safe
space’ for the mentee to share their academic worries and concerns. Mentees are expected to be
receptive to the advice and encouragement that the mentor can offer but not to over-burden them
with demands. The relationship must strive to be a positive and trusting one. It is important that the
relationship is kept professional and it is important both parties ensure they do not over-reach
reasonable bounds in terms of professional expertise. A mentor will not be a mentees appraiser and
mentees should be established members of staff outside of their Institute.
Aims of the mentoring relationship
 To assist the mentee in developing an understanding of the expectations placed upon them
as an academic.

To assist the mentee to realise their professional ambitions.

To act as a source of professional support for the mentee and assist with their induction into
the School and wider University.
Matching Process
When a new early career academic joins the University, the Organisation and Staff Development (OSD)
team will email them requesting they complete the Mentor Selection Form. This form will notify the
OSD team of the mentees preferred selections of a mentor. We will try to match preferences but we
cannot guarantee. This match will then be passed to the Director (Elaine Walters) and Dean of SAS
(Roger Kain) for approval. Once approval has been reached, the OSD will inform the mentor and
mentee of the match.
Confidentiality
Any matters discussed between the mentor and mentee should remain confidential unless by mutual
agreement third parties are consulted. However, if the need arises that either party requires
consultation regarding their mentoring relationship. They can contact Elaine Walters or the OSD team.
When the matching doesn’t work
Some mentoring pairs may not work, either because the mentee needs different support than the
mentor can offer or because of personality clashes. If either party, without reference to the mentor /
mentee wants to end the relationship, they must consult with Elaine Walters in the first instance.
Elaine with the assistance of the Head of Organisational Development (Petra Dodd) will, if possible,
endeavour to assign a different mentor / mentee. Alternatively mentors and mentees can discuss
these issues directly with the OSD team.
Who should have a mentor?
All early career academics should be assigned a mentor.
October 2015
Who should be a mentor?
The mentor will be a senior member of Academic Staff outside the mentee's Institute.
The Relationship from Start to Finish
When the mentor and mentee have been informed of the match. The mentor is expected to arrange
the first meeting. In this meeting, discussions should focus around objectives, frequency of meetings
and expectations. The mentoring relationship should last between 6 and 12 months. A short
evaluation survey will be sent to each mentee and mentor roughly 12 months after each party has
been informed of the match.
What the mentor is NOT responsible for
The mentor is very much a ‘guide on the side’. It is not his/her role to ‘line manage’ the mentee, and
the mentor is not responsible for the mentee’s career success within the School. Mentors cannot make
commitments to the mentee on behalf of the School regarding the mentee’s likelihood of passing
probation or the prospect of a successful promotion. There are no written requirements related to
mentoring, or any necessity for the mentor or mentee to share documents. However, if both are
agreeable and have time, there may be benefits from sharing.
Mentoring Skills
If any academic is interested in mentoring training or if any mentee would like further ideas about
how to get the most of the mentoring relationship, please contact the Organisational & Staff
Development Team.
October 2015