Student-Mentor Student-Mentor RelationshipsRelationships

Helen C. HartonHelen C. Harton

Professor of PsychologyProfessor of Psychology

harton@uni.eduharton@uni.edu

What is a mentor, and why What is a mentor, and why do I need one?do I need one?

Could be academic advisor, thesis Could be academic advisor, thesis supervisor, graduate coordinator, or supervisor, graduate coordinator, or other faculty memberother faculty member

Can be a formal or informal Can be a formal or informal relationshiprelationship

People who are mentored are People who are mentored are generally more successfulgenerally more successful

Remember that you don’t have to get Remember that you don’t have to get everything from one personeverything from one person

A good mentor should…A good mentor should…

Spend time with youSpend time with you Provide you with feedbackProvide you with feedback Provide you with Provide you with

information/resourcesinformation/resources Support you and be willing to go to Support you and be willing to go to

bat for youbat for you Help you find useful Help you find useful

experiences/colleaguesexperiences/colleagues

How should you choose a How should you choose a mentor?mentor?

Things to consider about yourselfThings to consider about yourself– Research/scholarly interestsResearch/scholarly interests– Current level of knowledge/skillsCurrent level of knowledge/skills– TimetableTimetable– What and how much support you needWhat and how much support you need

Things to consider about the mentorThings to consider about the mentor– AvailabilityAvailability– ReputationReputation– Track recordTrack record– PersonalityPersonality

Talk to advanced students about Talk to advanced students about potential mentorspotential mentors

Fit is everything!Fit is everything!

How can you be a good How can you be a good mentee?mentee?

Communicate clearly about Communicate clearly about expectationsexpectations

Be respectful of their timeBe respectful of their time Be respectful of their feedbackBe respectful of their feedback Trust that they know more than you, Trust that they know more than you,

at least about some thingsat least about some things Know what their pet peeves areKnow what their pet peeves are Come with solutions, not problemsCome with solutions, not problems

Admit your mistakesAdmit your mistakes Don’t assume they can read your mindDon’t assume they can read your mind Be pleasant to work with Be pleasant to work with Be independent but not too Be independent but not too

independentindependent Plan on revisionsPlan on revisions Realize faculty are human and have Realize faculty are human and have

outside lives toooutside lives too

What should you do if it’s What should you do if it’s not workingnot working

Be open and communicate with the Be open and communicate with the mentor firstmentor first

Be careful with email (though it can Be careful with email (though it can be helpful in documentation)be helpful in documentation)

Don’t escalateDon’t escalate Check with others to make sure Check with others to make sure

you’re seeing things accuratelyyou’re seeing things accurately

If it’s still bad…If it’s still bad…

ExploitationExploitation HarassmentHarassment Talk to someone you trust (e.g., grad Talk to someone you trust (e.g., grad

coordinator, department head) and if coordinator, department head) and if that person doesn’t listen, find that person doesn’t listen, find someone elsesomeone else

Keep in mind that some faculty are Keep in mind that some faculty are obligated to report sexual harassmentobligated to report sexual harassment

RememberRemember

You don’t HAVE to have a mentorYou don’t HAVE to have a mentor Your ideal mentor may actually be Your ideal mentor may actually be

outside your department or a peeroutside your department or a peer Don’t get discouraged—there are Don’t get discouraged—there are

people out there who’d love to help people out there who’d love to help you succeed and are a good fit for you succeed and are a good fit for your needs and interests.your needs and interests.