Mission
The College of Engineering’s Improve You Staff Mentoring Program, established in 2014, strengthens the college through knowledge sharing, leadership development, and fostering healthy work partnerships among staff.
Improve You: Staff Mentoring Program
Program Description
- Mentoring has been identified as an important influence in professional development in both public and private sectors. The benefits of mentoring are numerous, including increased morale, organizational productivity, career development, and higher retention.
- Mentors play a key role in defining professional behavior, particularly for new employees as they settle into their position.
- Mentees get assistance planning, developing, and managing their careers and skillsets.
- Mentoring relationships enable employees to be more resilient in times of change, more self-reliant in their careers, and more responsible as self-directed learners.
Program Overview
Objectives
- Building collaborative relationships
- Increase efficiencies and productivity
- Provide an opportunity to “give back”
- Foster creativity and exposure to new ideas
- Encourage professional development
- Nurture future leaders
- Enhance career satisfaction and retention
Eligibility
All staff members in the College of Engineering (COE) and the Program for Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) are eligible to participate. Separation from CoE or WiSE during the year will result in a participant’s ineligibility. The Steering Committee will work with the remaining member of the dyad to find another mentor/mentee if the separation takes place on or before March 1.
Process
- COE and WiSE staff members express interest in participating in the program.
- The Steering Committee will host an informational meeting to discuss to program.
- The Steering Committee will host a meet and greet event to encourage dyad selection.
- Potential mentors and mentees complete a profile for the website.
- Mentees review mentor profiles and begin seeking a dyad.
- The dyad will submit their names to the Steering Committee (removes profiles from the website).
- The Steering Committee will hold training sessions for mentees and mentors in the late summer/early fall.
- The dyad will work together to complete the goals and agreement form, which will be signed by mentor, mentee, and both of their supervisors. The signed agreement will be submitted to the Steering Committee.
- Mentees will schedule regular dyad meetings and develop agenda items throughout the year.
- The Steering Committee will host five program events each year, featuring a variety of professional development topics. In addition, the Steering Committee will host social events.
Training
Training content will focus on expectations and provide a framework for the mentoring relationship. Training is required for all new program participants, first-time mentees, and first-time mentors.
Evaluation
An assessment will be conducted annually to gather feedback, guide future programming, and foster continuous program improvement.
Information for Mentees
Benefits
Mentoring is an important influence in our professional development from career development to skill development. Mentors are there to support and help mentees grow and reach their goal(s), which could range from helping new staff members settle into their position and navigating the university, networking, sharing knowledge, to enhancing skillsets.
Both the mentor and the mentee give and grow in the mentoring process. You, the mentee, can learn valuable knowledge from the mentor’s expertise and past experiences. You can also increase your competencies in specific areas or establish valuable connections with higher level employees. Mentees will also:
- Develop strengths and professional skills
- Clarify career goals and objectives
- Expand professional network and be exposed to new ideas
- Building collaborative relationships
- Increase awareness of organizational and network resources
- Enhance existing skillset and gain new skills
Expectations
- Commit to self development
- Assume responsibility for acquiring or improving skills and knowledge
- Discuss individual development planning with their mentor
- Be open and honest on their goals, expectations, challenges, and concerns
- Actively listen and ask questions
- Seek advice, opinion, feedback, and direction from their mentor
- Ask for and be open to constructive criticism/feedback
- Respect their mentor’s time and resources
- Stay accessible, committed, and engaged during the length of the program
- Comfortably able to give feedback to their mentor on what is working or not working in the mentoring relationship
Information for Mentors
Benefits
Mentoring is an important influence in our professional development from career development to skill development. Mentors are there to support and help mentees grow and reach their goal(s), which could range from helping new staff members settle into their position and navigating the university, networking, sharing knowledge, to enhancing skillsets. Both the mentor and the mentee give and grow in the mentoring process. You, the mentor, have an opportunity to review your accomplishments and challenges, as a reminder of lessons learned. In sharing your expertise, you are leaving a legacy and guiding another one’s career path. This also gives you an opportunity to review and re-energize your personal career goals. Mentors will also:
- Enhance coaching and listening skills
- Develop or refine leadership style
- Gain understanding of barriers experienced by others
- Expand professional network and be exposed to new ideas
- Building collaborative relationships
- Appreciate your own expertise
Expectations
- Explain how the organization is structured
- Be respected as an experienced and successful professional in the organization
- Support the organization’s mission, vision, and goals
- Stay accessible, committed, and engaged during the length of the program
- Listen well
- Offer encouragement through genuine, positive reinforcement
- Be a positive role model
- Share “lessons learned” from their own experiences
- Be a resource and a sounding board
Steering Committee
- Cindy Frame, Co-Chair, Agriculture & Biosystems Engineering
- Deanna Harper, Co-Chair, Engineering Recruitment and Student Services
- Nikki Eggert, Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering
- Andrew Albaugh, Aerospace Engineering
- Jenna Levendusky, Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering
- Yamille X. Pérez, Engineering Recruitment and Student Services
Contact the Steering Committee
Activities and Articles
Helpful Articles for Building a Mentoring Relationship
- 10 Killer Questions to Make the Most of Mentor Meeting
- Making the Most of Mentors – A Guide for Mentees
- Mentorship Topics to Discuss With Mentors and Mentees
- University of Minnesota Mentoring Guide