Faculty Mentoring Training

One critical element of an effective mentor-mentee relationship is a shared understanding of what each person expects from the relationship. Problems between mentors and mentees often arise from misunderstandings about expectations. Importantly, expectations change over time, so frequent reflection and clear communication about these expectations are needed on a regular basis. In this module, the content will focus on applying tools (e.g., mentoring agreements and Individual Development Plans - IDPs) to ensure expectations for the mentor-mentee relationship are clarified and communicated.

As a result of participating in this event, attendees will be able to:

1. Effectively establish mutually beneficial expectations for the mentoring relationship.
2. Clearly communicate expectations for the mentoring relationship.
3. Align mentee and mentor expectations.
4. Consider how personal and professional differences may impact expectations, including differences across disciplines when working in multidisciplinary teams.

Effective communication between mentors and mentees is essential to the mentoring relationship. Everyone communicates differently, however. As mentors, it is not enough to say that we know good communication when we see it. It is critical that mentors reflect upon and identify characteristics of effective communication and take time to practice communication skills in the module and with their mentees.   

As a result of participating in this event, attendees will be able to:

1. Communicate effectively across diverse dimensions including varied backgrounds, disciplines, generations, ethnicities, positions of power, etc.
2. Provide constructive feedback.
3. Identify different communication styles.
4. Engage in active listening.
5. Use multiple strategies for improving communication (in person, at a distance, across multiple mentors, and within proper personal boundaries).

Clear understanding is the foundation of effective research mentorship - yet assessing whether mentees truly grasp core concepts, project goals, and disciplinary context can be challenging. Mentees may hesitate to reveal confusion, especially when expectations are unclear or expert-novice gaps go unaddressed. This module equips faculty with strategies to better assess and support mentee understanding, leading to more productive and independent researchers. Join us to strengthen your mentoring practice and empower your graduate students for success.

As a result of participating in this event, attendees will be able to:

1. Assess mentee’s understanding of core concepts and processes, as well as the ability to develop and conduct a project and present outcomes.
2. Identify reasons for lack of understanding, including expert-novice differences.
3. Use multiple strategies to enhance mentee understanding across diverse disciplinary perspectives.

At the crux of a mentoring relationship is considering the mentees goals and devising a plan to meet those goals. However, if goals are not properly identified or there is a mismatch between the mentor and mentee’s plans to achieve established goals, there can be significant consequences for the mentee. In this module, participants will consider the roles mentors play, explore various resources for setting goals, and how to have goal-related conversations.

As a result of participating in this event, attendees will be able to:

1. Identify the roles mentors play in the overall professional development of their mentees.
2. Developing a strategy for guiding professional development using a written document.
3. Engaging in open dialogue on balancing the competing demands, needs, and interests of mentors and mentees.

An important goal in any mentoring relationship is helping the mentee become independent; yet defining what an independent mentee knows and can do is often not articulated by the mentor or the mentee. Describing what independence looks like and developing skills to foster independence are important to becoming an effective mentor. In this module, participants will consider both how to identify goals for their mentees and explore ways to achieve those goals that works for both the mentor and mentee.

As a result of participating in this event, attendees will be able to:

1. Define independence, its core elements, and how those elements change over the course of a mentoring relationship.
2. Create an environment in which mentees can achieve goals.
3. Identify benefits and challenges of fostering independence, including conflicting goals of fostering independence and achieving mentor research objectives.

Clear communication is key in any mentoring relationship. However, sometimes it can be difficult to determine what a mentee needs in order to clearly communicate a plan for meeting these needs. In this module, faculty will learn about Individualized Development Plans (IDPs) and how to use them to learn about their student’s short-term and long-term goals and therefore provide more effective mentoring opportunities. Participants will engage with each other through case studies that foster graduate student growth. This module will also help researchers meet the graduate student trainee requirements for the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institute of Health (NIH), and other agencies.

As a result of participating in this event, attendees will be able to:

1. Identify the new mentoring requirements for federal agencies.
2. Develop strategies for graduate student mentoring plans and mentoring agreements.
3. Engage in open dialogue on students Individualized Development Plans (IDPs).

As more graduate students pursue their degrees online, effective virtual mentoring is critical to their success. Faculty need strategies tailored to the distinct needs of remote learners. Participants will explore the distinct needs of these students, examine inclusive communication strategies, consider the best ways in which to advise these students, and learn to use practical tools and templates that have been demonstrated to support the success of students in virtual environments.

As a result of participating in this event, attendees will be able to:

1. Recognize the unique advising and mentoring needs of online graduate students, including challenges related to isolation, time zones, engagement, and institutional navigation.
2. Consider inclusive, flexible, and intentional communication strategies to foster connection, trust, and student growth in virtual mentoring relationships.
3. Develop strategies to mentor/advise students to achieve goals moving.

In this module, faculty members will begin to understand the mentoring process as it relates to research to practice translation. Issues such as publication authorship, prototyping, navigating the path to practice, and patenting and intellectual property develop will be discussed. Engagement with other faculty members to learn about being a successful mentor for these processes will provide participants with actionable strategies.

As a result of participating in this event, attendees will be able to:

1. Understand how to guide researchers in understanding the impact of publication and prototyping on research translation.
2. Examine best practices and lessons learned for research to practice mentoring.
3. Consider how to integrate undergraduates in the process.

Conducting ethical, high-quality research is essential for building trust in science and advancing knowledge. Graduate students play a key role in upholding research integrity, yet navigating the complex expectations and requirements can be challenging. In this module, participants will be introduced to the core principles of responsible and ethical conduct of research (RCR/RECR) and explore topics such as data integrity, authorship practices, conflicts of interest, and the role of mentorship in maintaining ethical standards. Through discussion and case studies, graduate students will gain practical strategies for applying these principles in their work and learn about federal training requirements that may apply to their research. 

As a result of participating in this event, attendees will be able to:

1. Identify core principles of responsible and ethical conduct of research, in compliance with NSF and NIH RCR/RECR training requirements.
2. Analyze ethical dilemmas in research using a case study to recognize potential challenges and consider appropriate actions.
3. Develop strategies to mentor students to uphold ethical research practices that meet both professional standards and grant compliance requirements.

This module offers a practical framework to help you assess and strengthen your students' research skills over time. By the end, you’ll know how to apply and prioritize key components of the Researcher Development Framework and tailor them to your lab and students at different career stages. You will reflect on your mentees' competencies, identify areas for improvement, and prioritize the research skills they need to advance their academic and professional careers.  

As a result of participating in this event, attendees will be able to:

1. Mentor graduate students’ assessment of personal research skills using the 63 elements of the "Researcher Development Framework" worksheet to identify strengths and areas for improvement.
2. Mentor students to prioritize key research skills and explore strategies for skill development in a mentoring context.
3. Develop effective communication strategies for discussing research skill development needs with mentees to foster supportive mentoring relationships.

Effective mentorship is intentional—it evolves through reflection, experience, and a clear sense of purpose. This session offers faculty an opportunity to step back, assess their mentoring practice, and develop a personal mentoring philosophy grounded in what works for them and their mentees. Designed as a follow-up to previous mentor training modules, this session helps you translate insights into action. You’ll reflect on your mentoring style, identify areas for growth, and articulate a framework to guide your approach moving forward. Whether you're building a foundation or refining a seasoned approach, this session supports you in becoming the kind of mentor who makes a lasting impact.

As a result of participating in this event, attendees will be able to:

1. Reflect on how mentoring aligns with their broader professional values and goals.
2. Identify specific practices to strengthen mentor-mentee relationships.
3. Draft or refine a mentoring philosophy to guide future engagement.

Graduate students sometimes experience high rates of anxiety and depression that can result in a strained mentor-mentee relationship, slowed degree progress, and other more serious outcomes. Mentors usually are not trained mental health professionals, though we do often have close professional relationships with mentees. Building a strong understanding of the boundaries of your responsibilities with regard to mentee mental health is critical to positive experiences for both the mentor and mentee. Learn how to provide a professional and mentally healthy work environment. 

As a result of participating in this event, attendees will be able to: :

1. Recognize the importance of all four domains of a mentee’s life to their overall career satisfaction.
2. Explore the boundaries of legal, ethical, and moral responsibilities with regard to mentee mental health.
3. Use a structured process designed to initiate and support conversation between mentors and mentees on the challenges of achieving better work/life interactions.
4. Identify for themselves and their mentees targeted areas for achieving better work/life integration.

In collaboration with NSF STRIDE:

Entrepreneurial minded (EM) mentorship helps graduate students move beyond completing academic and professional tasks to recognizing opportunities, making meaningful connections, and considering how their work creates value. In this module, faculty will explore KEEN’s 3Cs (Curiosity, Connections, and Creating Value) as a framework for strengthening mentoring relationships and developing more innovative, adaptable, and impact-oriented graduate students. Participants will practice mentoring strategies that encourage students to ask better questions, explore stakeholder perspectives, connect knowledge and resources across boundaries, and consider the broader value of their graduate experiences. Faculty will also consider how entrepreneurial mindset can support student agency, research translation where applicable, exploration of diverse career pathways, and movement from recognizing opportunities toward meaningful action.  

As a result of participating in this event, attendees will be able to: 

1. Apply Curiosity, Connections, and Creating Value as a framework for strengthening graduate student mentorship. 
2. Use entrepreneurial minded mentoring strategies to help mentees recognize opportunities, explore stakeholder needs, and make connections across people, disciplines, and resources. 
3. Develop strategies for helping mentees articulate the value and broader impact of their graduate experiences and identify next steps toward meaningful outcomes. 

Mentoring graduate students during mental health struggles is one of the most challenging—and critical—responsibilities faculty face. Research shows that timely, empathetic intervention can significantly improve student well-being, academic retention, and even save lives. Yet, without training, many mentors understandably feel unprepared to navigate these high-stakes conversations. This 90-minute session will empower participants with evidence-based strategies to recognize distress, respond with confidence, and connect students to vital resources—ensuring you can provide meaningful support while safeguarding your own professional and emotional boundaries. 

As a result of participating in this event, attendees will be able to: 

1. Recognize the signs of distress and psychological crisis. 
2. Understand the roles and boundaries of faculty in dealing with students in crisis. 
3. Learn effective communication strategies in high-stress situations. 
4. Know the appropriate referral pathways and applicable reporting policies. 
5. Practice responding to scenarios in a supportive, trauma-informed way.