The College provides ongoing programs of faculty development specifically for faculty members in the early years of their careers. These programs are designed to provide just-in-time help with the sorts of issues that typically arise in the first few years as faculty settle into new roles as teachers-scholars, launch research programs, juggle the demands of professional and personal lives, and find a place within the campus community. Each of these sessions includes brief presentations by key faculty and staff members but is designed to provide lots of opportunity for questions and collegial conversation.
Mentoring Meetings for 2022-2023:
First-Year Faculty
Thursday, September 22: Evaluating Student Work
How do you know if your grading standards are appropriate? How can you provide effective feedback—not just grades? How do you handle situations in which students challenge a grade?
Thursday, October 13: Getting Feedback on Your Teaching
How do you design a helpful evaluation form (mid-course or end-of-course)? How should you interpret the feedback you receive, especially when it is challenging? How can you constructively respond to evaluation information?
Thursday, November 10: Teaching the Whole Student
What social and emotional challenges do students face in college and how do we take account of them? How do you recognize when students’ personal issues are affecting their work? When and how should you direct them to appropriate resources?
January: Setting Boundaries and Maintaining Balance
How do you balance teaching and research? How do you maintain balance between work and personal life outside of work? How do you set clear and appropriate boundaries about your availability? How do you choose which professional activities, both on and off campus, to become involved with and which to decline? This session won’t provide answers, but come discuss the challenges with colleagues.
February: Developing a Teaching Persona
What do you project about yourself in the classroom? How do you find a balance between projecting authority with students and cultivating friendly relationships with them?
April: Advising
As you prepare to become an academic adviser, what do you need to know about the goals of our advising system? How can you shape advising meetings so that they extend beyond mere course selection to help students set a path for a successful life at and beyond Carleton? How can you make the most of your relationships with advisees?
May: Looking Back and Thinking Ahead for Tenure-track and Continuing Faculty
What has worked this year and what changes do you want to make for next year? How can you strategically use your end-of-year conversation with your chair to share your plans and get feedback? Do you feel like you are beginning to develop a network of mentors that you can turn to if you have questions? What would be helpful as look ahead to your priorities for next year?
What should be your priorities for your second year? What has worked well for you in this year, and what changes do you see coming for next year? Do you feel that you are fitting in to the culture of your department and Carleton as a whole? Are there specific things that could help you in the next stage of your life at Carleton?
Second-Year Tenure-Track Faculty
October 20: Research Support
How should you think about launching a successful program of research? What sorts of support does the College offer to help you secure and administer research grants?
February : Building Collegial Networks at Carleton and Beyond
How can you cultivate relationships with colleagues near and far who will be good conversation partners for your work? How can you set a path to make meaningful and sustainable contributions to the life of the College and your profession through initiatives, department work, committees, and other opportunities for service?
May: Anticipating the 3rd Year Review
What can you expect from the 3rd year review process? How can you best prepare for it and get the most out of it?
Tenure-Track Faculty Undergoing Third-Year Review
September 29: Mentoring for 3rd Year Faculty
Early in fall term we have a session for colleagues who will be doing their third year review. This includes advice from former members of the Faculty Personnel Committee on the writing of an effective prospectus.
For All Interested Faculty
January: Writing Letters of Recommendation
Writing letters of recommendation becomes an important part of our role as teachers. We will look at sample letters, and have advice from faculty members who are skilled in this practice.