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1 What is a Mentor?
Pages 1-16

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From page 1...
... The original Mentor was described by Homer as the "wise and trusted counselor" whom Odysseus left in charge of his household during his travels. Athena, in the guise of Mentor, became the guardian and teacher of Odysseus' son Telemachus.
From page 2...
... cites Morris Zelditch's useful summary of a mentor's multiple roles: "Mentors are advisors, people with career experience willing to share their knowledge; supporters, people who give emotional and moral encouragement; tutors, people who give specific feedback on one's performance; masters, in the sense of employers to whom one is apprenticed; sponsors, sources of information about and aid in obtaining opportunities; models, of identity, of the kind of person one should be to be an academic." In general, an effective mentoring relationship is characterized by mutual respect, trust, understanding, and empathy. Good mentors are able to share life experiences and wisdom, as well as technical expertise.
From page 3...
... In general, however, each relationship must be based on a common goal: to advance the educational and personal growth of the student. You as mentor can also benefit enormously.
From page 4...
... Students, for their part, need to understand the professional pressures and time constraints faced by their mentors and not view them as merely a means or impediment to their goal. For many faculty, mentoring is not their primary responsibility; in fact, time spent with students can be time taken from their own research.
From page 5...
... A student who is doing well might require only "check-ins" or brief meetings. Another student might have continuing difficulties and require several formal meetings a week; one or two students might occupy most of an adviser's mentoring time.
From page 6...
... A nonHispanic faculty member advising a Hispanic student might form an advising team that includes a Hispanic faculty member in a related discipline. Other appropriate mentors could include other students, more-advanced postdoctoral associates, and other faculty in the same or other fields.
From page 7...
... Building a professional network is a lifelong process that can be crucial in finding a satisfying position and career. Professional Ethics Be alert for ways to illustrate ethical issues and choices.
From page 9...
... Blacks, Hispanics, and American Indians as a group make up about 23% of the US population, but only about 6% of the science and engineering labor force. Many minority-group students are deterred from careers in science and engineering by inadequate preparation, a scarcity of role models, low expectations on the part of others, and unfamiliarity with the culture and idioms of science.
From page 10...
... Female representation. In some fields notably psychology, the social sciences, and the life sciences females are well represented as students but underrepresented in the professoriate and are not always appointed to assistant professor positions at a rate that one would expect on the basis of PhD and postdoctoral student representation.
From page 11...
... Be familiar with campus support groups and of female role models on and off campus. Family issues.
From page 12...
... Inappropriate closeness between mentors and students will produce personal, ethical, and legal consequences not only for the persons involved but also for the programs or institutions of which they are part. Be guided by common sense and a knowledge of your own circumstances.
From page 13...
... In a respectful relation ship, mutual affection can be an appropriate response to shared inquiry and can enhance the learning process; this kind of affection, however, is neither exclusive nor romantic. For additional guidance, talk with your department chair, your own mentor, or other faculty.
From page 14...
... issues might provide help (for example, in securing funding from the National Institutes of Health [NIH] , the National Science Foundation [NSF]


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