FAU Libraries Faculty Handbook

Faculty Mentoring Program
 

Mission

FAU Libraries is committed to assisting new faculty in maximally developing their professional careers and believes that the mentoring of new librarians will assist in the attainment of that goal. The mentoring program also aims to assist in the retention of excellent faculty.

A mentor is a trusted counselor or guide. In an academic setting, a mentor is generally a senior faculty member who advises or guides a junior faculty member in matters relating to achievement of academic success. At FAU Libraries, it is expected that the mentor will assist the mentee in creating an agenda for working toward his/her professional development goals and will provide the mentee with insights into the realities of building an academic career. As such, the mentor is an active participant in the process and does not serve merely as a role model for the mentee.

The Library Director has overall responsibility for the success of the faculty mentoring process. In addition to taking an active interest in the progress of each faculty member in all activities, the Director must ensure that the faculty mentoring program is implemented.* The Library Director, upon notification by the Chair of the Search Committee of the candidate’s acceptance of the employment offer, should consult with the new librarian’s Department Head to identify and assign a mentor. Mentors must be at the associate librarian rank or higher. In addition to rank, one’s position title should also be considered. If the new librarian has been hired as a department head, the mentor should have a position title of equal or higher status. The Library Director will convey the mentor’s name and contact information as soon as possible after the acceptance of the employment offer. The mentor should be assigned to the new librarian by the new librarian's first day of employment. If either the new librarian or the department head realize that a mentor has not been assigned by the first day of employment, the department head should notify the Director of Libraries. The Director of Libraries will then initiate the process of assigning a mentor.

* The first year of the faculty mentoring program (2007-2008) will be a pilot study. Current library faculty and library faculty hired during this time period will be given the opportunity to participate in this program. The Director of Libraries and the Associate Director will coordinate the pilot program and assign mentors. At the end of the year, all faculty who participated in the faculty mentoring program (mentees and mentors) will meet to discuss the positive and negative aspects of the program and suggestions for improvement. The findings will be reported to the Faculty Assembly. The Faculty Assembly will consider making changes to the Faculty Mentoring Program at that time. Approved changes will be reflected in this document and will go into effect for the full implementation of the faculty mentoring program the following year (2008-2009).

Role of the Library Faculty in Mentoring

It is the professional responsibility of library faculty to serve as mentors when called upon by the Library Director. This responsibility will be added to the librarian’s annual assignment for the term of service.

Mentoring Orientation Program

The FAU Libraries LAM liaison will coordinate the mentoring orientation program with SEFLIN.

Responsibilities of the Mentor

The mentor will:

• Provide the new librarian with the URL for the Library Faculty Handbook, and information about other appropriate University and Library staff resources
• Be accessible to the mentee for a term of at least one year, and meet with him/her on a regular basis, as agreed upon by both parties. It is suggested the meetings be at least twice a year and on an as-needed basis. If the mentee/mentor wish to continue the relationship past one year, they may do so on an informal basis
• Advise the mentee on relevant issues related to developing an academic career,
  including research and/or related scholarly activities, publication, and participating on committees
• Be familiar with and explain the Libraries’ and University’s criteria, policies, and procedures regarding promotion
• Assist the mentee in establishing short-term and long-term career goals
• Assist the mentee in identifying the skill areas on which he/she most need to work and assist in improving the mentee’s skills, or suggest other members of the faculty or administration who may assist in particular areas which may not be the strength of the mentor
• Provide constructive feedback
• Advise the mentee concerning the importance of networking and networking strategies
• Be familiar with resources offered by the University and Library regarding issues relating to faculty development
• Advise mentee on importance of being a team player
• Maintain confidentiality
• Terminate relationship if, and when appropriate

Responsibilities of the Mentee

The mentee will:

• Actively participate in the mentoring relationship
• Assume responsibility for his/her career
• Ask for and accept advice and constructive criticism
• Become familiar with the Libraries’ and University’s criteria, policies, and procedures regarding promotion
• Develop a professional network which includes the mentor’s recommendations and those personally identified
• Maintain confidentiality
• Terminate relationship if, and when appropriate and change mentors if he/she chooses

Mentors Outside the FAU Libraries

Following the first year of the FAU Libraries Faculty Mentoring Program, the Faculty Assembly will consider and vote on expanding the program to include mentors from outside the FAU Libraries (librarians and/or administrators) personally selected by the mentees.

Evaluation of the Faculty Mentoring Program

At the end of each year, all faculty who participated in the faculty mentoring program (mentees and mentors) will meet to discuss the positive and negative aspects of the program and suggestions for improvement. The findings will be reported to the Faculty Assembly. The Faculty Assembly will consider making changes to the Faculty Mentoring Program at that time. Approved changes will be reflected in this document and will go into effect to the following year.

Adapted from the University of Pennsylvania’s Guidelines for the School of Medicine Faculty Mentoring Program. Available at http://somapps.med.upenn.edu/fapd/documents/pl00021.pdf.

Return to the FAU Libraries Faculty Handbook