Mentor Duties

Before the semester begins you should touch base with your mentee every day

• Help the new faculty member set up their office- procure supplies, chairs, shelves, cabinets, etc.
• Work with getting into their email, word, special programs used by the department which they may need for the first semester.
• Get them sample syllabi for the courses they are teaching, get some sample exams, get the text books and outlines for them.
• Sit down with them and help them devise a syllabus for each course they are teaching to include grading policies, homework policy, attendance and lateness policies; final exam schedule, etc.
• Have them speak with the coordinators of the courses they are teaching to learn special procedures etc.
• Walk through the rooms they are teaching in to familiarize themselves with the equipment, files, materials etc in the room.
• Conduct a walking tour of the campus that includes the Test Center and the LAC.
• Have lunch together the day before the semester begins to make sure they are ready to go.
• Help them plan their first class meetings- ice breakers, the routines of the first day etc.
• Show them how to get materials to and from the print shop.
• Help them with the copier machine!
• Schedule an informal meeting with the office staff to go over expectations and procedures for word processing, ordering supplies, etc.

In the first two weeks which are hectic for us and more hectic for them

• Advise them about allowing extra students in their class who are not on their roster.
• Work with them to track down students not attending the first days of the semester.
• When you are not in class, walk by their office and check to see how things are going and see if they need anything.
• Meet for lunch once during each week-take a walk around campus, go to the deli down the road, sit by the pond, picnic outside in the quad, go to the ILB, be creative!- talk about targeting students with problems, resources available to students and to them to help them cope, possible ways to alter their first day experience.

In subsequent weeks

• Meet once a week for lunch for at least half an hour to discuss motivating students, students falling behind, alternative teaching strategies, easy classroom research activities to get an indication of how things are going for them in the class.
• When it is time to give the first exam ask to see the faculty member’s exam, sit with them to discuss the exam to include how to grade it, questioning techniques. Once the exam is administered sit with them to discuss and interpret the results, possible changes to the format of the exam etc.
• If you are on any committees, C &I, Faculty Forum, Dev Ed etc, please take them to at least one meeting per committee.
• At midterm meet with them to discuss informing students of their progress, advising students about withdraw or special grading options, issuing grade reports etc. Review college policies on I grades.

• When it is time for an observation, sit down with them and discuss their plan. Go through the lesson with them offer suggestions, approval, materials.
• Try to arrange an observation for them of another faculty member or you so that they may experience different teaching styles.

At the end of the semester

• Sit down with them and discuss assigning grades to students- partial credit, extra points, “curves”, I grades.
• Remind them of all the materials that have to be submitted with grade sheets.
• Remind them about filing exams.

In the second semester

If the mentee is teaching a new prep, help them get sample exams, syllabi, the text and other materials needed. Work with them on devising handouts needed for their class.

Have a scheduled once a week 15-30 minute meeting to touch base and advise as needed.

Talk about the MAPs document and discuss items which should be included.

Discuss possible Peer Partners for them for their second year activity.