Components of the WSU-CON Mentoring Plan
1. Orientation
All first year tenure and clinical track faculty should attend the CON and University
orientation sessions. An explanation of the mentoring plan will be given during
orientation.
2. Match with a Mentor
New faculty will have at least one mentor (i.e., their Assistant Dean). Tenure track faculty
will also have a research mentor. When a tenure track faculty appointment is made, the
Assistant Dean assigns a research mentor for the new faculty member in collaboration with the
Dean and Associate Dean for Research. This research mentor may remain with the
mentee indefinitely or may be changed. Other mentors may be added. In cases of
changing commitments, incompatibility, or where the relationship is not mutually fulfilling,
the new faculty member should seek advice from assistant dean and request a change.
Mentor changes can and should be made without prejudice or fault. There is no need to
state a reason to change mentors.
3. Mentoring Plan (All faculty)
The mentee and mentor (Assistant Dean) should meet at least once a semester during
the first year to outline a mentoring plan. The plan should guide the development of a
good faculty member including good teacher, performance as a CON faculty member,
and good campus citizen. The following issues should be addressed:
a) Familiarize with the campus and its environment.
b) Introduce to colleagues within the CON and the university.
c) Polices and procedures that are relevant to the new faculty member’s work.
d) Provide constructive criticism, encouragement, compliments on achievements.
e) Provide constructive guidance and practical feedback.
f) Provide help sorting out priorities.
g) Provide mentoring related to teaching.
h) Explain criteria for promotion and/or tenure.
4. Research Mentoring Plan: Developing and Sustaining the Mentoring Relationship
(Tenure track faculty)
The mentee and research mentor should meet frequently (recommendation—once a
month) in the first year to outline a research plan for the mentee that corresponds with
a semester-by-semester plan of tasks for all semesters pre-tenure. Mentoring
plans are to state objectives, an action plan to meet goals/objectives, target completion
dates and specific outcomes.
Research mentoring plans should be submitted to the Associate Dean for Research by
the end of the first semester. On submission of the plan the mentor will receive $200 in
travel funds. By entering into the mentoring relationship, mentors agree to set up the first
meeting. Mentoring teams will meet with the Associate Dean for Research at the end of
the first year to discuss progress toward goals.
Role of Research Mentor
Mentors are trustworthy advisors who strive to share wisdom gained from their own
experiences. Ideally mentors meet with their mentee on a regular basis and are accessible
to the mentees.
Mentors will:
a) Keep in contact by dropping by, calling, sending an email, or extending a lunch
invitation.
b) Facilitate connections with content expert collaborators across campus and nationally.
c) Help the mentee establish a professional research network within the university and
nationally.
d) Take time to read/critique proposals and papers and to provide periodic reviews of
progress.
e) Follow constructive criticism with mutual problem-solving and plans for improvement.
f) Encourage mentees to consider your suggestions along with recommendation from
other colleagues and advisors.
g) Do not divulge confidences.
h) Offer strategies of approaches that have helped them balance work and personal
demands.
i) Share instances of failures as well as their successes.
Role of Mentee
Mentees will:
a) Respond promptly to mentor’s invitation for a first meeting.
b) Provide an account of professional activities by sharing CV.
c) Agree on mutual understanding of confidentiality.
d) Establish meeting times and modes that work for both parties.
e) Meet regularly (once a month) with mentor.
f) Communicate questions and concerns.
g) Be willing to accept constructive criticism.
Initial Meetings
During the initial meeting mentees and mentors should set short (within 1st year) and long
term (within 5 years) goals. For example, short term goals may include submission of a CON
internal grant application, submission of an ANF or MNRS research grant application plus
write two manuscripts for publication. Long term goals may be to have enough publications
for promotion to Associate Professor and to have 3 externally funded proposals. Mutual
expectations will be discussed and agreed upon. Mentees should strive to have a small
grant application by the Spring of the first year. On submission of the grant in the first year,
mentees will receive $200 in travel funds. Conclude the first meeting with a discussion
about the frequency of meeting and which modes of communication (phone, email, inperson) will work for both mentor and mentee. Set a date and time for the next meeting.
Other meetings should determine competencies that need to be gained in order to
obtain goals (e.g., designing research, writing grants, collaborating effectively, managing
data, finding funding, hiring personnel, preparing/managing a budget, etc.) Mentors will
help their mentee acquire needed competencies. The OHR will provide support for mentees
to attend university sponsored grant writing workshops.
Subsequent Meetings
Mentors will help the mentee:
a) Identify key research questions, define of research aims, describe approach and
rationale, and construct a work plan, timeline, and budget.
b) Know the various professional, university and CON research resources.
c) Determine accomplishments and assess progress made. If progress slow, mentors
and mentees will identify obstacles to progress and discuss potential ways to
overcome obstacles.
d) By meeting regularly to provide constructive guidance and practical feedback on
proposal and manuscript drafts.
e) Identify one or more external agencies supporting research grants in the mentee’s
area of focus.
Submit Plan to Associate Dean for Research by End of 1st Semester:
By the end of the first semester a written plan should be submitted to the Associate Dean for
Research that describes:
a) Short and long term goals.
b) A semester-by-semester description of planned objectives, action plans to meet
those objectives and specific outcomes.
c) Target completion dates.
6. Annual Evaluations of Mentoring
The mentee’s Assistant Dean, Associate Dean for Research and research mentor and mentee
will meet once a year to discuss progress. Annual evaluations will be used to assess the
success of mentoring plans, based on progress made. Evaluation meetings will be used to
revise mentoring plans as needed.
Appendix I: Research Mentor Criteria
CON Research Mentors will hold the rank of associate or professor, and should meet 3 of the
following 5 criteria:
1. Had a least 3 funded research proposals (internal or external).
2. Published in a refereed journal.
3. Reviewed for or served on an Editorial Board of a refereed journal.
4. Been the Principal Investigator on a funded external grant.
5. Presented research at a national level conference.
The research mentor does not need to share the research interests of the mentee, nor have to
reside in the same school as the mentee.