Faculty Development
Resources for All Career Stages
UNC Hussman Junior Faculty Mentoring Program
The Hussman School of Journalism and Media hires new faculty members with the expectation that all will succeed and achieve tenure and/or promotion. The school takes seriously its responsibility to support faculty, especially junior faculty, to assist them in their professional growth and development. Providing opportunities for the development of effective mentoring relationships is a crucial element of that support.
- Mentors should meet prior to meeting with the mentee to determine the focus of conversations so that they are united in the advice shared. Individual mentors have differing backgrounds and could give differing advice separately.
- Be in contact (in person, email, phone) at least once a month with your mentee. Meet in person two or three times per semester.
- At your first meeting, discuss what each of you expects from the mentoring relationship. Remember your mentee may have more than one mentor, so he or she may want you to focus on particular aspects of his or her professional development.
- Exchange CVs with your mentee to stimulate discussion about career paths and possibilities.
- Assist your mentee to develop short- and long-range professional plans, e.g., a research or creative activity agenda or teaching development plan.
- Ask about and celebrate accomplishments. Encourage your mentee to inform the dean about major accomplishments (e.g., publications, awards, invitations) or do it for your mentee.
- Offer to read your mentee’s manuscript drafts, syllabi, etc. Provide positive and constructive criticism and feedback.
- Use your knowledge and experience to help your mentee understand how the School and University operate.
- Help your mentee network in the School, on campus and in the discipline. Introduce him or her to colleagues.
- Discuss annual performance reviews, third-year reviews, promotion and/or tenure reviews with the junior faculty member, e.g., how to prepare, what to expect. Volunteer to review drafts of the documents your mentee must submit for reviews.
- Assist the junior faculty in exploring the institutional and school culture, e.g., What is valued? What is rewarded?
- Share knowledge of important university and professional events that your mentee should or might want to attend.
- Improve your skills as a mentor by attending mentoring workshops, reading about mentoring and discussing mentorship with colleagues.
- Let the academic dean know as soon as possible if you have any concerns about the mentoring relationship.
- Be proactive. Initiate contact with your mentor(s).
- Give copies of your CV to your mentors and ask for copies of theirs. (Remember that your mentor often has been at this for many years, so their CV will be longer than yours – be careful about comparisons.)
- Be willing to ask for help and advice. Recognize that your success is important not only to you but also to the School and University.
- Be sure to share accomplishments with your mentors. Mentors are there to help you deal with problems and concerns but also want to share in your joys.
- Write down questions as they occur to you and bring the list along to your meeting with your mentor.
- Get to know your junior colleagues in the School and across campus. Remember the value of peer mentoring. Those who have been at UNC a few years can provide you invaluable information and advice.
- Take advantage of opportunities to speak about and present your work. That lets other people know what you are interested in and can help create partnerships and other opportunities.
- Take advantage of the many faculty support services the University offers, including but not limited to the programs and resources of the UNC Center for Faculty Excellence (cfe.unc.edu).
- Show initiative in planning your own career. Set short- and long-range goals for your teaching, research and service. Share those goals with your mentors.
- Be respectful of your mentors’ time and other responsibilities. Do not expect overnight turnaround on materials you ask your mentor to review.
- Let the academic dean know as soon as possible if your have any concerns about the mentoring relationship.
Mentoring is central to both individual and institutional success. Good mentorship is a hallmark of successful academic units. The department chair or school dean is responsible for ensuring mentoring is available and for establishing an environment conducive to and supportive of mentorship. Senior faculty members have a responsibility to support and advise their junior colleagues. Junior faculty should be proactive in developing mentoring relationships and are responsible for taking advantage of the mentorship opportunities available to them.
Report of the UNC Task Force on Future Promotion
and Tenure Policies and Practices, May 2009
Provost Distinguished Faculty Leaders Program
The program is available for Carolina’s outstanding mid-career and senior faculty who wish to develop greater insight into provost-level campus strategic initiatives and academic processes, strategic planning, budget issues, and challenges in higher education. Selected faculty leaders participate in professional development activities designed to expose them to higher education processes, issues, ideas, challenges at the executive level and prepare them for leadership roles.
Learn about Distinguished Faculty Leaders Program