Faculty Mentoring Program
Sponsored by the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost, the Faculty Mentoring Program (FMP) is part of OHIO’s ongoing investment in inclusive academic excellence.
Program Benefits
The program facilitates a collaborative learning opportunity in which faculty can discover strategies on how to best meet specific goals. Faculty will participate in a community of learners that will enable them to network, support and learn from one another. Individual goals may vary considerably and may relate to involvement in research, teaching, publishing, grant-writing and community engagement. Mentoring partnerships may also extend to strategies for maintaining a functional work-life integration and trajectories in the academic journeys. Additionally, mentees may have the opportunity to access mini grants to further their teaching, service and scholarship activities. Essentially, mentoring relationships that are attentive to the unique needs and experiences of individuals can personalize and demystify the academic trajectories that lead to reappointment, promotion, and professional success.
Program Structure
The structure of the FMP includes an emphasis on reciprocal mentoring in both large groups and small circles as well as on the individual level.
FMP Roles
- Co-Directors - (faculty selected by the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost)
- Faculty Mentees - (new to OHIO tenure track, instructional, visiting, and clinical faculty)
- Faculty Mentors - (established tenure track, instructional, visiting, and clinical faculty at OHIO)
- Lead Mentors - (faculty or administrators appointed from returning FMP faculty mentors who agree to serve as heads FMP mentoring circles)
- Associate Mentors (faculty or administrators who are paired with Lead Mentors to guide the FMP mentoring circles
- Affiliate Mentors - (faculty or administrators who are unable to commit to serving throughout the entire program but are willing to meet with FMP mentees about specific topics)
- Affiliate Mentee - (faculty who have completed the FMP as a mentee (within the last three years) and would still like to attend learning and development sessions, social and networking events, and have access to mentor interactions)
FMP Program Elements
- FMP Group Learning Sessions and Mentoring Circles - (large group learning sessions with mentor/mentee breakout circles to support growth needs based on interest and affiliation)
- Individual Mentoring - (one-on-one sessions between mentors and mentees about specific topics)
- Development-Focused Sessions - (larger group session with mentor/mentee circles based on growth needs via faculty group)
- Community-Focused Sessions - (optional larger group session with other groups to increase networking opportunities)
- Resources - The FMP resources will include supplemental materials.
- Social Events - End of the semester and end of the year celebration
2025 - 2026 Meeting Dates
The program will be offered in person on the Athens campus of ºÚÁÏÊÓƵ. Participants will gather monthly on the third Wednesday of each month from 4:15 PM to 5:30 PM in the Patton Hall Demonstration Kitchen, Room 120. Specific program meeting dates are as follows:
Fall 2025
- Monday, September 8th – 12 pm – 1:00 pm (Mentor Virtual Orientation MENTORS ONLY)
- Wednesday, September 17th — 4:15-5:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, October 15th — 4:15-5:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, November 19th — 4:15-5:30 p.m.
- Fall Program Social — December — TBA
Spring 2026
- Wednesday, January 21st — 4:15-5:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, February 18th— 4:15-5:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, March 18th— 4:15-5:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, April 15th— 4:15-5:30 p.m.
- Spring Program Social — April — TBA
FMP Outcomes
| Outcomes for the Program | Outcomes for Mentees | Outcomes for Mentors |
|---|---|---|
| Create and/or enhance a feeling of belonging in shared spaces to explore growth and development opportunities that foster confidence in career path and sense of professional goal achievement | Greater connection to OHIO's intellectual and campus community and a stronger overall sense of belonging | Greater collaboration across disciplines and departments |
| Expand professional networking opportunities across fields and departments | Enhanced professional networking opportunities across fields and departments | Investment in mentee's professional success at OHIO and beyond
|
| Provide access to expanded professional development focused resources | Access to expanded professional development opportunities | Exposure to new innovations, emerging trends, and ideas |
| Foster mutually beneficial and rewarding professional relationships between participating stakeholders | Deepened confidence in career path and sense of professional goal setting and achievement | Serve at meaningful levels that have direct impact on the lives of those participating and stakeholders in which they engage |
Time Commitment
Over the academic year, mentors and mentees will meet and collaborate through confidential, respectful, and continuous relationships. With an in-person time commitment of around 10-12 hours each semester, we ask mentors and mentees to engage in opportunities each semester that include:
- Mentors Only: One (1) virtual mentor onboarding session
- Three (3) large group programming sessions including small group breakouts (mentoring circles)
- One (1) development session
- One (1) social event at the end of each semester
- At least three (3) 30-minute on-on-one sessions with a specific mentor/mentee or affiliate mentor/mentee
- Monthly discussion questions to prime participants for the monthly sessions and events to maximize retention and application of the skills and knowledge learned.
- Completion of the end of session (Fall and Spring) satisfaction survey
- Occasional community activities may be held in tandem with other OHIO faculty development programs
Potential FMP Topics
Potential topics addressed during the FMP may include Developmental, Informational, and Learning sessions related to the following:
- Balancing teaching with service and/or research obligations
- Work-life balance and wellness
- Meeting service or research requirements
- Planning service involvement or publications
- Participating in community-engaged activities and scholarship
- Identifying and applying for grant opportunities
- Faculty research, teaching ideas, and creative activity
- Current issues in higher education
- Strategizing about conference travel and presentations
Co-Director Contact Information
For more information, contact:
Dwan Robinson, Ph.D. (robinsd3@ohio.edu) or Uzoma Miller, Ph.D. (milleru@ohio.edu)