Long-Term Patterns in a Mentoring Program for Junior Faculty: Recommendations for Practice

Abstract

Faculty developers believe mentoring programs are beneficial for new and junior faculty. Although there are reports on the early years of these programs, few have existed for more than 15 years. This article reports on a junior faculty program in place for 18 years with the same goals, format, and activities. The endurance of its mentoring component, with continuing support of faculty, former mentors and protégés, and administrators, is a measure of its success. Mentoring patterns relative to gender, mentor repetition, protégés who later mentor, and multidisciplinarity within pairings may be of assistance and encouragement to anyone initiating or continuing a mentoring program. Over 70 recommendations are included.