New Faculty Mentoring Program
Co-sponsored by the Provost’s Office and the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, the purpose of the New Faculty Mentoring Program at Stonehill College is to establish a structure for meaningful, practical, and ongoing professional support for new faculty that will facilitate their development as exemplary teachers and scholars as well as their successful integration into the life of their programs, departments, and colleges, and the College as a whole.
The goals of the New Faculty Mentoring Program are to help new faculty:
- Build community and connection with other new faculty members
- Receive support in navigating various aspects of the faculty role including teaching, mentoring and advising, scholarship and service
- Become familiar with College culture and campus resources
- Meet and network with faculty, staff, and administrators from across campus
- Adjust to the new environment and become active members of the College community
The New Faculty Mentoring Program at Stonehill College offers the following opportunities for faculty support and development across their first year at the College:
During the New Faculty Orientation faculty, administrators, and staff from across the College come together to welcome new faculty and introduce them to resources that support their successful transition to life at the College. This series of initial meetings (which occur in August prior to the start of the academic year) serve as an opportunity for the new faculty to get to know each other and to learn about the College; expectations for teaching, scholarship and creative activity, and service; and resources for students and faculty.
This daylong program, which occurs in the fall of each year, is intended to provide a welcome and an overview of the College’s mission, history, and strategic initiatives.
New faculty are invited to attend monthly meetings to collaborate with peers and learn about specific topics of interest from experienced faculty, staff, and administrators at the College. These monthly meetings will be co-facilitated by the CETL Faculty Director and the Associate Provost for Academic Planning and Assessment and will typically occur on the second Monday of each month (September through May).
Topics for Fall Monthly Teaching and Learning Seminars (2022/2023 academic year)
| Monthly | Topics |
|---|---|
| September | The Student Success Collaborative |
| November | Assessing Your Teaching |
| December | Supports for Research and Scholarship |
| February | Mental Health Supports |
| March | Strategies for Engaging All Students |
| April | Strategies for Supporting All Students |
| May | Pulling it All Together, Preparing for the Summer and the Fall Semester |
The Department Chair or Program Director of the new faculty member’s department or program can answer day-to-day questions and offer guidance on course planning, finding resources, assisting students, and workload management (life-work balance). In addition to these as needed interactions, Department Chairs / Program Directors are encouraged to meet regularly (at least 30 minutes each month) with each new faculty to discuss:
- The promotion and tenure review process including departmental scholarship requirements (as appropriate)
- The annual review process, starting early in the fall semester with goal setting for the year
- Overall career planning, including short-, mid-, and long-terms goals (3- and 5-year plans to supplement the one-year plan made as part of the annual review process)
- Strategies for success and advancement within the institution, school, or department, with attention paid to formal as well as informal measures of success.
- Share information on academic and student support services on campus
- Review of course syllabus, including assignment design and the use of eLearn
- The role of assessment and learning outcomes (for course design and the department)
- Review of mid-semester and end of semester course evaluations
- Guidance on the issue of service, including service opportunities within and beyond the department
Faculty Director
