Academic Staff Mentoring Program
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: February 8, 2008
Who is Eligible to Participate?
Any academic staff member can be a mentor or a mentee. The program is designed for both new and continuing academic staff with goals developed to meet individual needs. All academic staff are eligible; however, given the program's difficulty in placing CHS faculty, we do not encourage them to apply to this program. (We will be happy to help these staff members connect with more appropriate resources.)
When Will This Take Place?
The application deadline is in February, and the mentoring year begins in April and continues through the academic year. Within the program, pairs set their own schedules and participate in formal and informal programming for up to one year.
Why Do UW-Madison Academic Staff Need a Mentoring Program?
There are about 7,000 academic staff professionals on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. Academic staff comprise one-third of the total staff, representing almost 900 different titles in programs and departments spread over a 900-plus acre campus. Since 1997, over 400 pairs of academic staff have participated in the mentoring program.
This great diversity can also create isolation. Often new staff members, and even experienced ones, have difficulty meeting other academic staff, learning about the campus culture, and participating in academic staff governance.
Academic staff employment can have other complications. Some jobs are often a mixture of short-term and long-term employment opportunities. While one job may last for a semester, others can last for many years. Turnover is often high and there is no quick way to acculturate employees to the University. Mentoring is a way in which senior people can help junior colleagues become a part of the University society and learn the ropes.
Both mentors and mentees report that they benefit from the chance to feel more connected to the University by this person-to-person commitment and the network that has developed among the larger group in the program.
Participants will be encouraged to examine their tool box of skills, network with other academic staff, attend professional training, and actively participate in governance. You are invited to join in the process of creating a larger community of caring for each other. Program evaluations indicate that it really works!
What Are the Benefits to Participation in the Program?
- Promote professional and personal development for mentees and mentors
- Foster communication across department, units, and campus
- Provide opportunities to share knowledge - and learn more - about UW-Madison
- Link mentees with mentors who can advise, coach, and guide them
Do I Know Enough to be a Mentor? Have I Been Around Too Long to be a Mentee?
One of the major benefits cited by mentor and mentee alike is the chance just to listen or have a listener. And for many mentees, simply having a person to turn to when navigating the bureaucratic thickets is a big help. You need not have a vast storehouse of University knowledge to be of real help to another staff member, nor does a long acquaintance with one job mean you cannot benefit from having a mentor.
Mentors are highly encouraged to remain in this program for at least three years.
How Will This Happen?
The Academic Staff Mentoring Committee processes all applications for mentors/mentees and facilitates the matching process. You will have an opportunity to meet with your prospective mentor prior to establishing a formal relationship. Group activities like training sessions and brown bags provide a valuable network that extends beyond the mentoring pair.
To help you get started, we will have an orientation session for all pairs in April 2009. If you are applying to this program as a mentor or mentee, it is important that you attend this session before you begin.
Each mentoring pair then designs a program to meet determined established goals. Goals will range from the very specific (e.g., a computer skill) to the diverse (e.g., someone to bounce ideas off or an experienced hand to review a vita). This flexibility allows for mentoring relationships that may last only a short time, as well as full-year relationships. Following the initial commitment, at the choice of the pairs, a relationship may end or may move to an informal level.
What Kind of Commitment is Involved?
We recomment making a minimum time commitment of two hours per month to this program. Past pairs have carried out their plans by such means as meeting regularly for coffee, or by attending group events together or by semi-regular conversations. Different plans work well for different people. The formal relationship is designed to last up to one year. This use of University staff time has been approved by University Administration.
How Do I Apply?
Applications are mailed to all academic staff once a year in December. If you are interested in becoming a mentee or a mentor, complete the form and return it to Colleen McCabe, Secretary of the Academic Staff, Room 270 Bascom by the deadline shown. If you are submitting your form electronically (available on the web), copy it and email it to cmccabe@wisc.edu. Also email or call (263-2985) Colleen if you need a hard copy application.
Application Form (html)
Print and fill out the application, then send to:
Secretary of the Academic Staff
Room 270 Bascom
If you have a disability and need accommodations to participate in the program, please contact us. Requests are confidential.Whom Do I Contact for More Information?
2008-09 Mentoring Program Steering CommitteeLori Devine (Summer 2010) - co-chair
Rec Sports Program Mgr
Rm 283 S E Recreation Facility
devine@education.wisc.edu
P: 262-4268Donna Cole (PDRC Rep. - 2009)
Research Program Mgr, Waisman
dmcole@wisc.edu
Rm T221 Waisman Center
P: 265-8107Mary Anne Clarke (Summer 2008)
Instructional Program Mgr, Physics
Chamberlin Hall
P: 262-2629RONALD W HARRIS
ASSOC FACULTY ASSOC
L&S, ENGLISH
7187d White Hall, Helen C
263-3795
rwharris@wisc.eduNancy Westphal-Johnson
Assoc. Dean L&S
westphal@ls.admin.wisc.edu
306 South Hall
263-2506Colleen McCabe - ex officio
Secretary of the Academic Staff
cmccabe@wisc.edu
270 Bascom Hall
P: 263-2985 F: 265-7849