“Mentoring is a critical part of personal growth and development and affords a lifetime of opportunity to grow and develop.” ~ Lisa Fain
The Mentor/Mentee Relationship
A positive mentor/mentee relationship grows with time and can follow both parties well into their respective careers. This relationship, when purposefully carried out, should be mutually beneficial for both the mentor, who has a wealth of knowledge to share, and the mentee, who brings new ideas and passion to the subject matter.
A positive mentoring experience is incredibly valuable within the academic and personal realms, and it also has the power to impact the lives of others beyond the mentor-mentee pair. For example, the development and publishing of scholarly works will enrich lives of those directly involved, and those in the local and global community.
In STEM fields, a positive mentor-mentee experience can increase funding opportunities and the perpetuation of consequential research. For example, funding agencies, such as the NIH and NSF, have expectations and instructions for faculty involved in the mentoring process. Meeting these expectations is crucial for the development of funding opportunities that make it possible for us all to continue vital scholarship.
The Graduate School’s Commitment to Mentoring
UAB’s Graduate School is dedicated to fostering the critical relationship between mentors and mentees and ensuring that these relationships are in compliance with funding agencies’ expectations for mentors. We recognize that this relationship is crucial for the success of our trainees, and we want it to be a positive experience for both the mentor and the mentee across disciplines.
It's important to remember that mentoring is a powerful position that comes with its own gravitas: funding, student retention, and the choices that students make once they complete graduate school are all connected to mentoring.
The Graduate School is currently updating the “Mentoring Matters” course and this will be available soon.