Louisiana Tech University established a three-pronged mentoring program for women faculty in STEM departments three years ago in an effort to improve retention, as well as provide professional development and leadership training. Officially managed out of the dean's office, the program includes formal mentoring, which pairs women with senior mentors outside their department. Following best mentoring practices as suggested by research, the program has included initial training of both mentors and mentees, monthly e-newsletters and listserv notices, formal recognition of outstanding mentors, as well as external assessment, all of which have contributed to the program's success. Opening the formal mentoring aspect to all tenure-track faculty has assisted in garnering widespread support for the program and in firmly institutionalizing it. Monthly lunches for women faculty at the campus faculty club (supported by the dean's office) have provided additional mentoring opportunities to deliver professional development and leadership training, as well as coverage of topics such as lab management, worklife balance, and gender issues for women in STEM. Moreover, the networking opportunities afforded by the monthly lunches have contributed to a stronger sense of confidence and encouraged peer mentoring among women faculty who participate. The initial target group has expanded to include collaborators in other disciplines, faculty whose research focuses on gender and STEM, as well as colleagues from areas such as entrepreneurship and social science who face many of the same issues as women faculty in STEM. Lastly, hosting well-known external speakers for small, on-campus workshops focused on topics such as leadership, negotiation, climate, and diversity, has further elevated the status of both the mentoring program and of participation in the program, as well as delivered outstanding professional development training. This paper will review the program, including feedback from external assessment, and make recommendations on aspects of the program that are transportable to other campuses.
展开▼
