Information for Mentors

This page provides guidance for faculty serving as mentors in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Mentors play a vital role in supporting the professional development of their colleagues and contributing to a culture of excellence and equity across CANR.

Best practices

Mentors are expected to provide impartial, candid and constructive guidance to mentees. They help mentees navigate university systems, understand expectations for reappointment, promotion and tenure and prepare for career advancement. Mentors should stay current with these processes and attend university and college-level workshops.

Mentoring committees should meet at least once per year, ideally in the spring semester before the unit annual review meetings. Following each meeting, a concise report should be prepared jointly with the mentee summarizing the mentee’s progress, challenges and feedback. Mentors should foster open-minded, respectful interactions and be mindful of power differentials.

Mentors may also serve as sponsors by writing nomination letters for awards and recognition, collaborating in various capacities to help build scholarship, facilitating networking and helping mentees gain visibility within the university and broader academic community.

For additional guidance, MSU offers a resource on best practices for mentors and mentees in academic settings that outlines principles for building effective mentoring relationships.

Checklist

Mentors are encouraged to use structured tools to guide their mentoring activities. A sample checklist is available to help mentors prepare for meetings, track mentee progress and ensure alignment with unit expectations.

Sample checklist for meetings

Beyond The Mentoring Committee

Mentors play an important role in supporting faculty development through the formal mentoring committee process. At the same time, faculty members often benefit from a broader network of mentors, sponsors, collaborators, and peers who provide different forms of support throughout their careers.

Mentors can help mentees identify opportunities to expand their professional networks, connect with colleagues across and beyond MSU, and access resources that support their evolving professional goals. Encouraging faculty to develop a diverse network of support complements the work of the mentoring committee and strengthens long-term professional development

 

Training for mentors

CANR and MSU offer training opportunities to support mentors in their roles. These include workshops, toolkits and online resources designed to enhance mentoring effectiveness and promote a supportive academic culture.

Mentors are encouraged to learn from and/or participate in the following programs:

These trainings help mentors stay informed about best practices and support the continuous improvement of mentoring programs across CANR.

Additional Resources

Mentors should be familiar with university resources that support faculty development and share these with their mentees. These resources provide guidance on effective mentoring practices, constructive feedback, teaching support, professional development, and institutional expectations.

For additional guidance, MSU offers resources on best practices for mentors and mentees in academic settings, including tools designed to support effective mentoring and faculty success. Resources such as the MSU Mentoring Toolkit can help mentors facilitate productive mentoring conversations, establish clear expectations, and support faculty across different career stages.

Visit the Additional Resources page to explore mentoring guides, templates, training opportunities, and other resources available through CANR and Michigan State University.