Importance of Mentoring for Instructional and Research Faculty

From career guidance to insights about navigating the Stony Brook culture, mentors serve an invaluable role in your success as a research or teaching faculty. In addition to gaining an available confidant, mentors can increase your personal satisfaction and provide assistance in preparing for career advancement.

The keys to a successful mentoring relationship include:

• Mutual respect and understanding
• Meeting on a regular schedule
• Establishing clear goals and expectations
• Measuring outcomes
• Keeping discussions confidential — with no feedback being given to supervisors or department chairs

Annual Evaluation of Instructional and Research Faculty

Faculty in all ranks, including the Lecturer series, should be evaluated annually by their Department. Evaluations are based on feedback for their teaching by departmental faculty and students and/or scholar work, depending on the case. New initiatives proposed and implemented (e.g., new pedagogical tools) are taken into consideration. The outcome of the evaluation and its recommendations should be communicated to the faculty member.

Having a mentor will help you prepare for the annual evaluation and reappointment, and make sure that you are on the right track to promotion.