C. Mentoring of Untenured/Tenured Track Professors
The Lynch School provides untenured professors with a mentorship relationship with tenured professors to help guide them in their professional development, and to advise as needed on a range of academic and professional matters. Since the majority of untenured/tenured track professors are assistant professors these initiatives are focused at that level.
The mentorship initiative was developed to support faculty in their first years at Boston College and does not play a direct or formal role in the faculty evaluation process. The spirit of the mentoring relationship, however, should be to help untenured assistant professors in their pursuit of promotion and tenure.
No written reports are required, though some mentoring teams may wish to develop a written statement of goals and activities to achieve them.
Each untenured assistant professor will have two mentors among the associate and full professors. Normally, of the two faculty mentors, one will be in the area of teaching and research of the junior faculty member. The Department Chair, in consultation with the junior faculty member, will make the initial assignment of mentors. At any time the junior faculty member may request that one or more of the mentors be changed.
Assignment of mentors will take place within one month of the initial appointment to the Lynch School faculty. Under normal circumstances, the mentorship team will remain in place during the entire untenured appointment. Mentors will meet with the untenured assistant professor at least once per semester to discuss relevant professional matters; more frequent meetings are encouraged. Goals and scheduled meetings/discussions will be set by the mentors and mentee.
In addition, the Associate Dean of Faculty and Academic Affairs has organized two to three Faculty Development Workshops for tenure-track Assistant Professors each semester. They include a general orientation, a discussion of the third year review process, and discussions of teaching and research. Boston College faculty and staff are invited as resources people and the format is designed to encourage sharing and mutual support. Additional topics are identified by participants.
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