New professors often find their first college/university job quite daunting. Not only are they on a new campus, but frequently that campus also has a different culture (a different size, different students, different politics) than what they experienced as a graduate student. Finding a mentor can be an effective way for new faculty to begin to feel more at home in their new academic setting.
Not every veteran faculty member, however, will make a good mentor. And an unsuccessful mentor/mentee pairing can leave the new faculty member feeling even more lost and confused than before. New faculty need to know how to look for a mentor and what qualities make for a successful mentoring relationship.
How to Look for a Mentor
If new faculty are lucky, then they won’t have to look for a mentor. Depending upon the culture of the university and/or the faculty member’s department, the department will already have a system for assigning new faculty a departmental mentor. Faculty will usually be assigned a mentor based on research or academic interests. Some colleges/universities also have faculty centers or teaching and learning centers that sponsor mentoring programs. New faculty, in this case, will likely be matched up with someone outside their discipline due to the availability of mentors.
Finding a Mentor Without a Mentoring Program
At some colleges and universities, new faculty who want mentors will be forced to find them on their own. Many second and third year faculty are or have been mentored, and turning to them for advice can be a good way to find a mentor (they may even offer to mentor the new faculty member themselves). Paying attention during early faculty meetings or other gatherings can be another effective way to find a mentor; meeting and hearing those with compatible views on education and academics in general can give new instructors some insight into whether or not to approach veteran professors for a possible mentoring relationship.
Social Gatherings and Group Mentoring
Some new faculty members may feel uncomfortable about the prospect of one-to-one mentoring. Many colleges and universities have a faculty club, a place where faculty members can socialize. A faculty club or other social outlet for faculty can be a great venue for new faculty not only to make friends, but to also learn about the campus culture. These social venues can open up opportunities for informal, group mentoring on the part of veteran faculty, and some of these veteran faculty may then volunteer to be a mentor to new faculty on a more formal basis.
Unsuccessful Mentoring
While most mentors have good intentions, they may not always be the best guide for a new faculty member – they may not be able to spend time with their mentee, or they may be giving their mentee advice that could be damaging to the mentee’s career or standing within the department. New faculty should keep their eyes and ears open regarding the mentor/mentee relationship. Do other people make disconcerting comments about the mentor? Does the mentor not seem invested in the relationship (regarding time or quality of advice and answers to questions)? If a new faculty member feels that the mentor/mentee pairing is not working, then he/she should firmly, but politely, back away from the relationship.
Mentoring is a Relationship Like any Other
Mentoring is a relationship, and just like any relationship, communication is key. Both parties need to keep the channels of communication open in order to prevent the mentee from feeling lost. Similarly, relationships also need support and feedback from others, and mentoring is no different. New faculty members should seek out a wide support network on campus, in addition to their mentors, in order to ensure success in their new academic home.
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