In the Social Mentoring program, a first-year faculty member is paired with another, relatively new faculty member to help the latter make social contacts outside his or her own department. These pairs meet at least twenty times during the year over coffee, lunch, a walk, a workout, going to chapel, attending an athletic event, etc. The primary focus of the program is the development of collegiality, but informal advice and information will undoubtedly also be exchanged.
Program Parameters:
- Each pair should attempt to meet weekly during Fall quarter and every other week during winter and spring quarters. These meetings need not be long or formal; ten minutes is fine.
- The mentor should send regular, brief reports to the Director of the Center for Scholarship and Faculty Development, Susan Gallagher.
- Each pair should participate in a social engagement once a quarter.
- Both mentor and mentee will complete an evaluation at the conclusion of the year.
Resources for Mentors:
- The Center will reimburse up to $250 in expenses related to mentoring activities. There are no restrictions on how you spend this money, other than the fact that you will need to provide a receipt for every expense.
- Ideas: breakfast, lunch, coffee, a movie-outing, a soccer game, an art exhibit, a concert, a play, running or walking together - be creative!
- Turn the original receipts in to the Center for processing.
- Talk to Susan Gallagher if you feel that the relationship is not working out or you need more ideas about things to talk about or if you encounter a very serious problem.
Topics:
- Start with small talk -- How are you doing? What happened this week?
- Be an active listener rather than a mere dispenser of facts
- Rather than giving directive advice, report what you have found helpful in a certain situation, or what you have seen others do
- Suggest other places to turn for help, i.e.: "perhaps you should talk to your department chair about that." "It sounds as if this student might need to be referred to the Center for Learning."
- Share your own good and bad first-year experiences. Assure the faculty member that she or he is not alone.
- Possible topics: teaching, scholarship, emotional or spiritual issues, university resources, community practices (Seattle or SPU), finding a church, time management, academic policies, etc.