Mentoring

Main Content

UWPA provides programs for Faculty, A/P and Civil Service women across the SIU Carbondale campus. UWPA is also currently supporting the efforts to create mentoring circles for female graduate students in the STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) to provide extra support in male predominant fields. These projects continue to evolve. UWPA is dedicated to creating a mentoring culture at SIU Carbondale. Our work together starts by sharing our skills, knowledge and support to each other within an extended learning and teaching community. If you are interested to know more about mentoring that relates to your specific career interests please contact UWPA.

  • Faculty Second Mentor Program
  • A/P Mentoring Circles
  • Civil Service Mentoring Circles & Civil Service ConnectionS Groups

The UWPA Second Mentor Program

The UWPA Second Mentor Program strategically pairs senior women faculty with new women faculty members from different colleges. The goal of pairing two faculty members in this manner is to bilaterally facilitate professional growth and development for each pair of participants. This pairing allows new women faculty to gain familiarity with the campus, the community and its functions while allowing senior women faculty to strengthen and refine their mentoring and leadership skills through their expert knowledge and contributions that assist in the professional growth of the mentee. The terms “Second Mentor” distinguishes this program from the primary ones developed by SIU Carbondale for new faculty members within each college.

Research has suggested that programs such as these are personally rewarding for participants who may benefit from multiple mentoring relationships: individually, concurrently and/or consecutively over time. “Second Mentors” are generally outside of the mentees’ formal review process, and therefore can serve as informal and impartial advocates and advisors to new women faculty. Historically, UWPA Second Mentors have remained supportive after the first year introductory and some cases actively engaged all through the mentee's tenure process. The duration of the commitment is left up to the mentor and mentee to determine after the first year.

Program Design:

  • UWPA will match mentors and mentees based on informal analysis of applications. 
  • Mentors shall be tenured associate or full professors with a vested interest in mentoring junior faculty members. 
  • Mentees shall be new or junior faculty at SIU Carbondale interested in broadening their understanding of SIU Carbondale. 
  • No former mentor/mentee experience is required for participation in the program.
  • Best mentoring practices will be provided to each pair of participants who will be free to meet at their own discretion.
  • Several networking events will be held throughout the academic year for program participants to interact and share experiences with each other.

If you are interested in becoming a mentor or mentee, please fill out the UWPA Second Mentor Application and email it to uwpa@siu.edu or mail it to UWPA Mail Code 4331 by October 31st.

Download: A Guide for Mentors and Mentees

Please contact us if you have any further question(s) regarding this program. Email us at uwpa@siu.edu or call (618) 453-1366.

Thank you for your interest in the UWPA Second Mentor Program.