Resources for Successful Mentoring Relationships
The following are examples of resources that may helpful to foster successful and culturally responsive mentoring relationships. As the program expands to include staff and students, the list will be revised. Resources should include information on:
- “Tips” and “tricks” for navigating institutional culture
- Essential handbooks and manuals
- Instructional support, technology, and access
- Support for professional development, research, and scholarship
- University recognized service opportunities
- Deadlines to relevant activities such as tenure and promotion materials
- Contacts to key university resources such as Human Resources, Diversity and Inclusion, Office of Institutional Equity
- Cultural events on campus or in the community
- Diverse cultural holidays
- Places to live and home care
- Health and personal care
- Dual career/partner hire opportunities
- Childcare, eldercare, education, and family support
- Places of worship
- Hair, beauty, and body care
- Resources for fun and entertainment in Salisbury
- Work-life balance and physical/mental/emotional well-being
Suggested Questions to Explore During Mentoring Contact
Below are examples of questions mentors may ask during mentoring sessions. As the program expands to include staff and students, the list will be revised.
- How are you doing?
- How’s your family?
- How are you adjusting to your new department?
- How’s your syllabus coming along?
- How was your first class?
- How are you adjusting to Salisbury (the university and the community)?
- Have you found opportunities to get involved?
- What do you do for fun?
- Are you connected to any social or community clubs or organizations?
- Anything you wish you knew before coming to the university?
- What are your thoughts on what’s happening with/in _____________________?
- How’s publishing going?
- Are you encountering any pushback?
- Do you feel valued in your department?
- How are you taking care of yourself?
- Are you thinking of leaving the university?
- Am I your only mentor? What other mentors do you have?
- What can I do to help?
- How can I advocate for you?
Examples of Important Mentoring Activities
The activities below will be organized by Mosaic Mentoring Program coordinators in conjunction with the Office of the Provost and other relevant offices such as the Office of the President or the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. Activities are subject to change.
- Pre-arrival outreach and contact from the Office of the Provost (Summer)
- New Faculty Orientation and Workshops (Summer and Spring)
- Potential mentees completing Interests and Aspirations Survey (Summer, to be developed)
- Group Professional Development Workshop (one in the Fall and Spring)
- Attending university and community events together
- Attending cultural enrichment events together
- Semester Checkpoint Focus Groups (Fall and Spring)
- Fall Social Gathering
- End of Fall Semester Survey (December)
- Attending Teaching and Learning Conference (February)
- Spring Social Gathering
- End of Year Survey (May)
Surveys and focus groups are intended to assess the impact of the mentoring program. Results will be used to improve the program. As the mentoring program evolves and expands, additional activities will be added.