“Mentoring is a critical part of personal growth and development and affords a lifetime of opportunity to grow and develop.” ~ Lisa Fain
The Mentor/Mentee Relationship
A positive mentor/mentee relationship grows with time and can follow both parties well into their respective careers. This relationship, when purposefully carried out, should be mutually beneficial for both the mentor, who has a wealth of knowledge to share, and the mentee, who brings new ideas and passion to the subject matter.
A positive mentoring experience is incredibly valuable within the academic and personal realms, and it also has the power to impact the lives of others beyond the mentor-mentee pair. For example, the development and publishing of scholarly works will enrich lives of those directly involved, and those in the local and global community.
In STEM fields, a positive mentor-mentee experience can increase funding opportunities and the perpetuation of consequential research. For example, funding agencies, such as the NIH and NSF, have expectations and instructions for faculty involved in the mentoring process. Meeting these expectations is crucial for the development of funding opportunities that make it possible for us all to continue vital scholarship.
The Graduate School’s Commitment to Mentoring
UAB’s Graduate School is dedicated to fostering the critical relationship between mentors and mentees and ensuring that these relationships are in compliance with funding agencies’ expectations for mentors. We recognize that this relationship is crucial for the success of our trainees, and we want it to be a positive experience for both the mentor and the mentee across disciplines.
It's important to remember that mentoring is a powerful position that comes with its own gravitas: funding, student retention, and the choices that students make once they complete graduate school are all connected to mentoring.
Because of the tremendous responsibility of mentoring, the Graduate School is proud to present “Mentoring Matters,” a new course in mentoring designed to provide a critical skill set for mentoring undergraduates, graduate students, and/or postdoctoral fellows.
What is “Mentoring Matters?"
“Mentoring Matters” is a "fully developed" or "at your own pace" UAB eLearning & Professional Studies course for mentors with a blended learning approach of both online and in-person/remote learning.
Within “Mentoring Matters,” the mentor will be supported by evidence-based approaches and resources for successful mentoring. There are online modules required for completion.
The “Mentoring Matters” Modules
Each module is taught by faculty here at UAB who are familiar with our student body and the need for positive and thoughtful models of mentorship. The course is designed to give the mentor a holistic approach to mentoring.
Within the course, there is an online training component, which walks the mentor through various aspects of effective mentoring.
You and “Mentoring Matters”
The mentoring relationship can be one of the most challenging relationships of one's career--both for the mentor and the mentee.
Alleviating the stress and potential areas of conflict between these two parties is one of the goals of this course. But overall, the ultimate goal is to help mentors guide trainees successfully. For these reasons, the Graduate School has worked diligently to provide this resource for mentors.
Faculty mentors of trainees participating in various training programs, as well as faculty mentors applying for graduate faculty status, are required to invest in their mentoring skills through this program. Mentors will also be expected to renew this training every five years.
We are excited to launch this program that will undoubtedly strengthen the mentor’s understanding and support of the mentor/mentee relationship. We encourage you to reach out to the Graduate School with questions.
To be enrolled in the course, please fill out the UAB eLearning Request Form.