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Student-Mentor Relationships

Student-Mentor Relationships. Helen C. Harton Professor of Psychology harton@uni.edu. What is a mentor, and why do I need one?. Could be academic advisor, thesis supervisor, graduate coordinator, or other faculty member Can be a formal or informal relationship

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Student-Mentor Relationships

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  1. Student-Mentor Relationships Helen C. Harton Professor of Psychology harton@uni.edu

  2. What is a mentor, and why do I need one? • Could be academic advisor, thesis supervisor, graduate coordinator, or other faculty member • Can be a formal or informal relationship • People who are mentored are generally more successful • Remember that you don’t have to get everything from one person

  3. A good mentor should… • Spend time with you • Provide you with feedback • Provide you with information/resources • Support you and be willing to go to bat for you • Help you find useful experiences/colleagues

  4. How should you choose a mentor? • Things to consider about yourself • Research/scholarly interests • Current level of knowledge/skills • Timetable • What and how much support you need

  5. Things to consider about the mentor • Availability • Reputation • Track record • Personality • Talk to advanced students about potential mentors • Fit is everything!

  6. How can you be a good mentee? • Communicate clearly about expectations • Be respectful of their time • Be respectful of their feedback • Trust that they know more than you, at least about some things • Know what their pet peeves are • Come with solutions, not problems

  7. Admit your mistakes • Don’t assume they can read your mind • Be pleasant to work with • Be independent but not too independent • Plan on revisions • Realize faculty are human and have outside lives too

  8. What should you do if it’s not working • Be open and communicate with the mentor first • Be careful with email (though it can be helpful in documentation) • Don’t escalate • Check with others to make sure you’re seeing things accurately

  9. If it’s still bad… • Exploitation • Harassment • Talk to someone you trust (e.g., grad coordinator, department head) and if that person doesn’t listen, find someone else • Keep in mind that some faculty are obligated to report sexual harassment

  10. Remember • You don’t HAVE to have a mentor • Your ideal mentor may actually be outside your department or a peer • Don’t get discouraged—there are people out there who’d love to help you succeed and are a good fit for your needs and interests.

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