Mentoring Program
Needs-Assessment Survey Report
Presented by the
Mentoring: More than a Welcome
Learning Circle
Michael DeBisschop, Pharmacy
Alan Pogroszewski, Sports Management
Kelly McCormick-Sullivan, Communication/Journalism
Jack Rosenberry, Communication/Journalism
Jim Seward, Communication/Journalism
Abstract:
This report describes the results of a needs-assessment survey of St, John Fisher College
faculty members conducted in the Fall 2007 semester, starting with a paper survey
distributed and collected at the faculty convocation in August and followed up with an
on-line survey in late September to allow faculty who did not receive the paper copy to
participate. A total of 125 survey responses were collected and analyzed.
A one-page executive summary of observations/analysis of the survey results by
Learning Circle members is followed by a detailed breakdown of the survey results.
Acknowledgements
Members of the Learning Circle would like to thank Theresa Nicolay and the PETAL
Committee and Dr. Dave Pate for sponsoring the work through summer Learning Circle
stipends. They also would like to thank Dr. Jean Maley for her assistance in
administering the online survey and Communication/Journalism student Karen Perry for
her assistance in tabulating results.
Mentoring Program Needs-Assessment Survey
Summary of Results
General matters
- Survey was completed by 125 of 182 faculty (69 percent of total population).
Using an adjustment factor for finite population correction, this gives the results a
margin of error of 4.9 percent.
- Results are broken down according to faculty with 4 or more years experience at
Fisher in one group and those with 3 or fewer years in the other.
Trends noticed by the Learning Circle committee members:
Demographics and mentoring (question 8)
- Both categories of the population that were surveyed (newer teachers as well as
“veteran” teachers/potential mentors expressed strong agreement that mentoring
would be most helpful within a discipline but were less concerned about a
“match” between mentors and protégés on issues of age, gender and
race/ethnicity.
- Women were somewhat more likely to answer that gender mattered in matching
mentors and protégés (30 percent of women agreeing that such a match was
important, compared to 20 percent of respondents overall), but this means a
majority of women (70 percent) said that was not an important factor
- Only 14 of those who completed the survey identified themselves as nonCaucasian (and one of them apparently did not answer the question about
importance of mentors and protégés being similar in ethnicity). While this means
the survey respondent pool (11 percent persons of color) actually matches the
college’s overall diversity numbers fairly closely, it is difficult to discern trends
with any validity from a survey population of only 13 cases. The results are
reported at the end of the survey tabulations that follow.
Topics for Mentoring Discussions
- Veterans and newer faculty were in agreement that academic issues such as
grading, advising and core requirements (question 9) were valuable topics of
discussion, although the veterans felt somewhat more strongly about the
importance of academic topics.
- Both groups uniformly expressed very strong agreement that “organizational
culture” issues such as policies, procedures, formal/informal communication
processes and constructing tenure cases were important matters for mentors and
protégés to discuss (questions 10 and 11).
Mentoring Process
- Members of both groups expressed interest in a program that would be regular
and systematic, but not overly structured, with most saying they would want to
meet regularly but fewer than half of each group saying they would want to
follow a formally structured program.
- About 75 percent of each group said that if a mentoring program existed, they
would be interested in participating as a protégé or mentor, respectively.
Mentoring Program Needs-Assessment Survey
For Newly Hired and Recently Hired Faculty
1. Gender:
Male
Female
n = 29
n = 40
2. Current academic rank:
Instructor/lecturer
Assistant professor
Associate professor
Full professor
42%
58%
n =12
n = 41
n = 13
n= 2
18%
60%
19%
3%
3. Length of service at Fisher (years completed through Spring 2007):
New hire for fall 2007
n = 19
Less than 1 year completed through Spring '07
n= 4
1 year completed through Spring '07
n = 15
2 years completed through spring '07
n = 17
3 years completed through spring '07
n = 14
28%
6%
22%
25%
20%
4. Total full-time teaching experience (including Fisher and other higher education
institutions):
Less than 3 years
n = 36
53%
3 - 5 years
n = 18
26%
6 - 10 years
n= 7
10%
11 or more years
n= 7
10%
5. School that you teach in:
Arts & Sciences
Business
Education
Nursing
Pharmacy
n = 24
n= 3
n = 15
n= 7
n= 8
51%
4%
22%
10%
12%
6. Age range:
30 or younger
31 – 40
41 – 50
51 – 60
61 or older
n=8
n = 31
n = 19
n = 10
n= 1
12%
45%
28%
14%
1%
7. Racial/Ethnic background:
African American
Asian
Caucasian/White
Latino
Native American
Other
n=2
n=3
n = 62
n=0
n=0
n=2
3%
4%
90%
0%
0%
3%
8. It is important to me that a mentor be:
a. The same gender.
Strongly agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly disagree
n= 3
n= 9
n = 40
n = 13
5%
14%
62%
20%
b. Similar in age.
Strongly agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly disagree
n= 3
n = 12
n = 39
n = 12
5%
18%
59%
18%
c. Similar in ethnicity.
Strongly agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly disagree
n= 1
n= 2
n = 40
n = 23
2%
3%
61%
35%
d. From the same or similar discipline.
Strongly agree
n = 22
Agree
n = 28
Disagree
n = 13
Strongly disagree
n= 7
32%
41%
19%
7%
e. Tenured.
Strongly agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly disagree
17%
45%
30%
7%
n = 12
n = 31
n = 21
n= 5
9. It is important to me that a mentor provide information/guidance on:
a. Grading.
Strongly agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly disagree
n = 12
n = 43
n= 9
n= 2
18%
65%
14%
3%
b. Attendance policies.
Strongly agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly disagree
n = 23
n = 36
n= 7
n= 1
34%
54%
10%
1%
c. Syllabi development.
Strongly agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly disagree
n= 8
n = 37
n = 16
n= 3
13%
58%
25%
5%
d. Advising process.
Strongly agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly disagree
n = 16
n = 36
n = 13
n= 1
24%
55%
20%
2%
e. College core requirements.
Strongly agree
n = 31
Agree
n = 30
Disagree
n= 6
Strongly disagree
n= 1
46%
44%
9%
1%
f. Teaching techniques.
Strongly agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly disagree
33%
52%
9%
6%
n = 22
n = 35
n= 6
n= 4
TENURE PROCESS
10. It is important to me that a mentor provide information/guidance on:
a. Writing my self-evaluation narrative.
Strongly agree
n = 33
Agree
n = 29
Disagree
n= 3
Strongly disagree
n= 0
51%
45%
5%
0%
b. How to get involved with service to the college.
Strongly agree
n = 25
38%
Agree
n = 41
62%
Disagree
n= 0
0%
Strongly disagree
n= 0
0%
c. How to get involved with service to the profession.
Strongly agree
n = 20
30%
Agree
n = 33
50%
Disagree
n = 13
20%
Strongly disagree
n= 0
0%
d. How to get involved with service to the community.
Strongly agree
n = 19
29%
Agree
n = 36
55%
Disagree
n = 10
15%
Strongly disagree
n= 1
2%
e. How to develop a program of scholarship.
Strongly agree
n = 28
43%
Agree
n = 32
49%
Disagree
n= 5
8%
Strongly disagree
n= 0
0%
f. How to interpret and integrate peer and student evaluations.
Strongly agree
n = 22
33%
Agree
n = 33
50%
Disagree
n = 11
17%
Strongly disagree
n= 0
0%
ORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION and CULTURE
11. It is important to me that a mentor provide information/guidance on:
a. School policies & procedures.
Strongly agree
n = 28
Agree
n = 39
Disagree
n= 0
Strongly disagree
n= 0
42%
58%
0%
0%
b. Formal and informal communication channels.
Strongly agree
n = 31
46%
Agree
n = 36
54%
Disagree
n= 0
0%
Strongly disagree
n= 0
0%
c. Participation at college functions, social events, meetings, Faculty Assembly.
Strongly agree
n = 18
27%
Agree
n = 43
65%
Disagree
n= 5
8%
Strongly disagree
n= 0
0%
d. Taking advantage of off-campus faculty development activities.
Strongly agree
n = 15
22%
Agree
n = 40
60%
Disagree
n = 11
16%
Strongly disagree
n= 1
1%
e. Taking advantage of on-campus faculty development activities.
Strongly agree
n = 18
27%
Agree
n = 42
64%
Disagree
n= 6
9%
Strongly disagree
n= 0
0%
12. It is important to me that a mentor do the following:
a. Meet formally at agreed-upon, regular intervals.
Strongly agree
n = 17
25%
Agree
n = 36
53%
Disagree
n = 14
21%
Strongly disagree
n= 1
1%
b. Follow a formal program with structured materials.
Strongly agree
n= 4
6%
Agree
n = 16
24%
Disagree
n = 40
61%
Strongly disagree
n= 6
9%
13. The duration of the mentoring relationship should be:
First year
First three years
Until three year review
Until tenure
n = 14
n = 18
n = 11
n = 21
22%
28%
17%
33%
14. If a mentoring process were available I would be interested in having a mentor.
Yes
No
n = 52
n = 14
79%
21%
Mentoring Program Needs-Assessment Survey For Potential Mentors
1. Gender:
Male
Female
n = 29
n = 27
52%
48%
2. Current academic rank:
Instructor/lecturer
Assistant professor
Associate professor
Full professor
n= 6
n = 12
n = 23
n = 15
11%
21%
41%
27%
3. Length of service at Fisher (years completed through Spring 2007):
4 - 6 years
n = 18
32%
7 - 10 years
n = 12
30%
11 - 20 years
n = 10
18%
21 or more years
n = 16
29%
4. Total full-time teaching experience (including Fisher and other higher education
institutions):
4 - 6 years
n= 9
16%
7 - 10 years
n = 12
22%
11 - 20 years
n = 11
20%
21 or more years
n = 23
42%
5. School that you teach in:
Arts & Sciences
Business
Education
Nursing
Pharmacy
n = 40
n= 7
n= 5
n= 4
n= 0
71%
13%
9%
7%
0%
6. Age range:
30 or younger
31 – 40
41 – 50
51 – 60
61 or older
n= 1
n = 12
n = 16
n = 14
n = 12
2%
22%
29%
25%
22%
7. Racial/Ethnic background:
African American
Asian
Caucasian/White
Latino
Native American
Other
n= 2
n= 3
n = 47
n= 0
n= 0
n= 2
4%
6%
87%
0%
0%
4%
CHARACTERISTICS of a MENTOR
8. It would be valuable if a mentor and protégé were:
a. The same gender.
Strongly agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly disagree
n= 3
n = 16
n = 26
n= 8
6%
30%
49%
15%
b. Similar in age.
Strongly agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly disagree
n= 0
n = 15
n = 33
n= 6
0%
28%
61%
11%
c. Similar in ethnicity.
Strongly agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly disagree
n= 1
n= 9
n = 29
n = 15
2%
17%
54%
28%
d. From the same or similar discipline.
Strongly agree
n = 21
Agree
n = 29
Disagree
n= 4
Strongly disagree
n= 1
38%
53%
7%
2%
ACADEMICS
9. It would be valuable if a mentor and protégé were to discuss:
a. Grading.
Strongly agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly disagree
n = 22
n = 30
n= 3
n= 1
39%
54%
5%
2%
b. Attendance policies.
Strongly agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly disagree
n = 30
n = 24
n= 1
n= 1
54%
43%
2%
2%
c. Syllabi development.
Strongly agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly disagree
n = 17
n = 32
n= 6
n= 1
30%
57%
11%
2%
d. Advising process.
Strongly agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly disagree
n = 27
n = 25
n= 3
n= 1
48%
45%
5%
2%
e. College core requirements.
Strongly agree
n = 29
Agree
n = 23
Disagree
n= 2
Strongly disagree
n= 1
53%
42%
4%
2%
f. Teaching techniques.
Strongly agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly disagree
45%
45%
9%
2%
n = 25
n = 25
n= 5
n= 1
TENURE PROCESS
10. It would be valuable if a mentor and protégé were to discuss:
a. Writing a self-evaluation narrative.
Strongly agree
n = 27
Agree
n = 25
Disagree
n= 2
Strongly disagree
n= 0
50%
46%
4%
0%
b. How to get involved with service to the college.
Strongly agree
n = 30
55%
Agree
n = 21
38%
Disagree
n= 4
7%
Strongly disagree
n= 0
0%
c. How to get involved with service to the profession.
Strongly agree
n = 22
40%
Agree
n = 28
51%
Disagree
n= 5
9%
Strongly disagree
n= 0
0%
d. How to get involved with service to the community.
Strongly agree
n = 12
22%
Agree
n = 34
62%
Disagree
n= 8
15%
Strongly disagree
n= 1
2%
e. How to develop a program of scholarship.
Strongly agree
n = 30
55%
Agree
n = 22
40%
Disagree
n= 3
5%
Strongly disagree
n= 0
0%
f. How to interpret and integrate peer and student evaluations.
Strongly agree
n = 23
42%
Agree
n = 28
51%
Disagree
n= 4
7%
Strongly disagree
n= 0
0%
ORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION and CULTURE
11. It would be valuable if a mentor and protégé were to discuss:
a. School policies & procedures.
Strongly agree
n = 20
Agree
n = 31
Disagree
n= 4
Strongly disagree
n= 1
36%
55%
7%
2%
b. Formal & informal communication channels.
Strongly agree
n = 30
54%
Agree
n = 23
41%
Disagree
n= 2
4%
Strongly disagree
n= 1
2%
c. Participation at college functions, social events, meetings, Faculty Assembly.
Strongly agree
n = 18
32%
Agree
n = 32
57%
Disagree
n= 4
7%
Strongly disagree
n= 2
4%
d. Taking advantage of off-campus faculty development activities.
Strongly agree
n = 11
20%
Agree
n = 37
67%
Disagree
n= 4
7%
Strongly disagree
n= 3
5%
e. Taking advantage of on-campus faculty development activities.
Strongly agree
n = 17
31%
Agree
n = 35
65%
Disagree
n= 1
2%
Strongly disagree
n= 1
2%
MENTORING PROCESS
12. It would be valuable if a mentor and protégé were to:
a. Meet formally at agreed-upon, regular intervals.
Strongly agree
n = 13
24%
Agree
n = 29
54%
Disagree
n = 10
19%
Strongly disagree
n= 2
4%
b. Follow a formal program with structured materials.
Strongly agree
n= 7
13%
Agree
n = 18
33%
Disagree
n = 26
48%
Strongly disagree
n= 3
6%
13. The duration of the mentoring relationship should be:
First year
n = 12
25%
First three years
n = 12
25%
Until 3 year review n = 13
27%
Until tenure
n = 11
23%
14. If a mentoring process were available I would be interested in being a mentor.
Yes
n = 38
75%
No
n = 13
25%
MENTORING TOOLS
15. The following items would be helpful in establishing and maintaining an effective
mentoring relationship:
a. Mentoring networking events
Strongly agree
n = 14
Agree
n = 27
Disagree
n = 13
Strongly disagree
n= 0
26%
50%
24%
0%
b. Online toolkit (resources on how to establish and maintain a mentoring relationship)
Strongly agree
n= 9
17%
Agree
n = 35
66%
Disagree
n= 9
17%
Strongly disagree
n= 0
0%
c. Recommended reading list on mentoring
Strongly agree
n= 7
13%
Agree
n = 32
59%
Disagree
n = 13
24%
Strongly disagree
n= 2
4%
d. Discussion guides ("how to" give feedback, offer conflict resolution techniques, etc.)
Strongly agree
n = 13
24%
Agree
n = 32
59%
Disagree
n= 9
17%
Strongly disagree
n= 0
0%
e. Training
Strongly agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly disagree
n = 13
n = 31
n = 11
n= 0
24%
56%
20%
0%
f. Checklists of items to discuss
Strongly agree
n = 18
Agree
n = 27
Disagree
n= 9
Strongly disagree
n= 1
33%
49%
16%
2%
Persons of color response to question 8C
(“It is important to me that a mentor and protégé be similar in ethnicity”)
(New and veteran groups combined, 14 total persons of color surveyed)
Strongly agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly disagree
Total
Missing
Total sampled
N
2
2
6
3
13
1
14
% (of 13 valid responses)
15.4
15.4
46.2
23.1
100.0