How departments can encourage mentoring of students
Assign a first-year temporary adviser: Assign new students a temporary faculty adviser until students and faculty can be paired, based on stated interests. Meet with advisees at least one a semester to review course selections and departmental requirements and to answer questions that arise.
Peer mentoring programs: To ease the transition to student life, pair first-year students with more advanced students who share similar interests.
Creating community: To establish a collegial atmosphere in which students and faculty can interact informally, it is helpful to designate a space, such as a lounge for this purpose. Many departments also host social events to which graduate students, faculty, staff and families are invited.
Professional socialization: Invite student participation on departmental committees so students can learn how their discipline operates.
Develop a mentoring policy: A department can construct a written policy explicitly stating that mentoring is part of the educational experience graduate students receive in their programs.
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