VUSN Mentoring Program for New, Non-Tenure Track Faculty 

Mentoring of NTT faculty is accomplished through multiple activities, from initial hire throughout an individual’s academic career. 

• New faculty participate in mentoring as a component of orientation. Mentors serve to guide and support the new faculty member in the process of transitioning into the academic role at VUSN, understanding the culture and role responsibilities, as well as meeting identified professional development goals. New faculty are encouraged to engage in self-assessment, meet with designated individuals, and participate in the process.
• The cohort of new full-time and part time faculty at VUSN meet in person (or virtually) periodically throughout the first year of employment for informal peer support and discussion of selected topics. New part-time faculty are invited and encouraged to attend all group meetings, but attendance is not required. All faculty and staff involved in new faculty orientation and mentoring are committed to facilitating a successful transition and are aware of their shared responsibilities in fulfillment of that goal. 
• New faculty reflect on their individual needs and goals and discuss them with the Associate Dean for Non-Tenure Track Faculty Affairs & Advancement at an initial meeting around the time of hire and at ongoing individual meetings throughout the first year (3-4 times). At this meeting orientation topics and discuss needs, strengths, and goals, and potential mentors In collaboration with the new faculty member, 1-3 mentors are identified based on common specialty interests, area of teaching expertise, scholarly interests, stated goals/needs, or other specific areas to represent support across multiple domains.
• Successful transition is jointly dependent upon mentees and mentors. Faculty Mentors partner with the new faculty member for at least the first year of employment, participate in goal setting, and supporting the new faculty member in achievement of those goals, and evaluation of goals at the end of the first year. Mentoring relationships are intended to be supportive, collaborative, and collegial. Academic directors provide general mentoring but may also be identified as a faculty mentor for a specific role. A mutually acceptable mentoring relationship includes goals, criteria for success, accountability assurances, ground rules (including confidentiality), boundaries, and a plan for evaluation. Individuals can opt out of an identified mentoring relationship at any time, for any reason.