Mentoring in Teaching

Frequent and high-quality interactions with faculty in and outside of the classroom have a positive impact on student learning (McKinsey, 2013)

McKinsey’s (2013) three types of mentoring based on students’ stages of progress in their college experience:

1. Mentoring in: helping newcomers get oriented and “learn the ropes”

2. Mentoring through: helping students acquire and apply more advanced skills, gain confidence, and begin to achieve autonomy in their work

3. Mentoring Onward: looking ahead to life after college, considering alternatives for jobs, careers, graduate school

These best mentorship practices are built mostly on Cramer & Prentice-Dunn (2007) Caring for the Whole Person: Guidelines for Advancing Undergraduate Mentorship. No one person may be able to intensely use every practice.

Be available—Set clear office hours and encourage students to attend. Build in a required office hour visit for individuals or pairs of students.
Be knowledgeable—Know the different issues students may face in the classroom/college and what resources are available to them.
Be educated about diversity and inclusion—Be aware of the barriers that students may face as a result of their identities and experiences.
Be empathetic—Practice active listening and communicate understanding.
Be personable—Show that you are human in class, use humor, let your personality come through in your teaching.
Be encouraging—support students throughout your class and reach out to those struggling.
Be helpful—Provide students with early, regular, and meaningful feedback about course assignments.
Be passionate—Show your students enthusiasm about your discipline and spark interest and curiosity in their learning.
Be strategic—build your course and syllabus in a way that lets mentorship be easy
Be invested—announce opportunities for professional development, growth, or other learning that go beyond your classroom.
Celebrate the student—Celebrate your students accomplishments, even if it is about something from outside of your class.

This additional resource has a self-assessment: Nature’s Guide for Mentors — What makes a good mentor?