TCPL Mentoring Program

2 faculty talking

The Teaching, Clinical Professors and Lecturers (TCPL) Mentoring program is a university-level, faculty-led program intended to provide teaching and clinical faculty with supportive relationships and experienced guidance around all aspects of academic life.  Mentors provide advice on issues that are central to TCPL professional success, including available institutional resources, networking, time management, service, work/life balance, and on how to navigate departmental cultures.

This program complements and functions alongside any existing departmental or divisional mentoring efforts, but it is focused on the unique mentoring needs of TCPL faculty. To learn about other mentoring opportunities at Miami, contact your academic department and division or check out our links for additional resources.

The program runs for one academic year, from August to May. The mentoring groups are reformed each fall, but participants can choose to stay in the same mentoring group if they continue into the program.

Eligibility

Participation in the Faculty Mentoring Program is open to TCPL faculty across all campuses. Mentors and mentees decide together the parameters of their relationship, the frequency of their interactions, and the best way to meet (in person, virtually, or both).

Our Matching Strategy

The TCPL Faculty Mentoring Program supports the mentors' and mentees' desire to have meaningful conversations about their growth as professionals at Miami.  We strive to match mentees with mentors from the same department and/or division, whenever possible. If this is not possible, we create mentoring groups from cognate disciplines.

Participant Expectations

The mentor and mentee will cultivate a working relationship for one academic year, although this can be extended, if both parties agree. The major role of the mentor is to guide their mentees as they construct their professional development plan, prepare their annual activities as a living dossier, and/or apply for promotion.

Apply to be a Mentee

Do you want professional advice from a more experienced colleague? Do you want to meet and learn from other TCPL faculty  in your department or division? Form lasting relationships that help.

Program benefits for mentees:

As mentee, you will benefit from peer insights on how to navigate the institutional terrain at Miami, receive advice on how to balance the demands of teaching, service, and life, meet colleagues within and outside your department, and expand your professional network.

Apply to be a mentee

Apply to be a Mentor

Do you want to be a mentor? Do you want to share your institutional experience and knowledge with other TCPL at Miami? Do you want to build deeper professional connections with other TCPL faculty  in your department or division?

Program benefits for mentors:

As mentor, you will gain university-level service, give back by contributing to the professional growth of a colleague, expand your professional network at Miami, and become eligible to join the Steering Committee on TCPL mentoring. 

Apply to be a mentor

Resources

Mentor/Mentee Responsibilities

As a mentor, you should:

  • Have up-to-date knowledge of the TCPL promotion process as posted on Provost website and TCPL canvas site.
  • Know the official contact person within the Dean’s office for TCPL affairs in the division of your mentees.
  • Be aware of CTE and Provost events that aid TCPL faculty and encourage participation.
  • Maintain confidentiality regarding all meetings with mentee.
  • Provide honest and respectful feedback to mentee.
  • Be willing to share personal experiences that have helped you reach your current level.
As a mentee, you should:
  • Reply to your mentor's communication in a timely manner.
  • Let your mentor know how they can help you.
  • Familiarize yourself with the resources on the TCPL Mentoring and Resources Canvas site and the Provost's Website.
Mentors should contact the mentee shortly after partners are established and set up an initial meeting to:
  • Get acquainted (you might share CVs ahead of time).
  • Establish the frequency and length of meetings (general expectation is once/month).
  • Discuss short and long term goals.
  • Determine the expectations/responsibilities of the mentor and mentee.
  • Any specific concerns/questions of the mentee.
While each mentor/mentee partnership will be unique, a specific topic or agenda should be created for each meeting in order to keep the meetings focused and productive and to be respectful of each other's time. The following topics are potential agenda items for meetings:
  • Teaching Philosophy and Plan for Evaluation of Teaching
  • Service Expectations and Opportunities
  • Networking
  • Professional Development Plan
  • Promotion Dossier
  • Annual Activity Report
If, for any reason, either mentor or mentee cannot continue with their mentoring relationship and want to leave the program before the end of the academic year, please let us know, so your mentor/mentee can be reassigned. Contact: TCPLmentoring@MiamiOH.edu

TCPL Resources and Mentoring Canvas site

Further Resources on Mentoring

Online Guides from Other Institutions:

Articles:

Books:

Please send any questions to TCPLmentoring@MiamiOH.edu.