Graduate Mentoring Seminar: 685

Course basics

Let's start by acknowledging that this is going to be a very strange, and difficult semester. It is quite possible that the course will have to evolve as the semester progresses, and we'll have to try to adapt as best we can. We will have to work together with patience and understanding, because we will all be going through this for the first time together, but we will get through it! Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help you navigate the course, and the semester more generally. Email is the best way to contact me.

We will meet in person, and seminars will be discussion-focussed. There will be preparatory readings in advance of some seminars. You will be expected to abide by the course tenets:

• Respect, not judgement.
• No names into, or out of, seminars.

Course details

Class schedule: We will meet in-person on Fridays at 2:00 pm in Small 111.

Class dates: We are currently scheduled to meet on:

• September 18.
• October 2, 9, 16, and 23.
• November 6 and 13.
• February 19 and 26, 2021.
• March 5, 2021.

Instructor: Chris Monahan (he/his/him), Small Hall 326C [not that it matters so much this semester]. Email: cjmonahan'at'wm.edu.

Course description

This mentoring seminar series will help graduate students build stronger mentoring relationships, both as mentors and mentees, and is based on materials distributed by the American Physical Society.

We will use group discussions, exercises, and readings to:

• Explore perceptions of mentoring relationships.
• Clarify expectations of mentoring relationships.
• Foster improved communication in mentoring relationships.
• Consider strategies for enhancing mentor and mentee understanding.
• Discuss the role of independence in mentoring relationships.
• Explore dynamics in mentoring relationships.
• Foster equity and inclusion in mentoring relationships.
• Discuss ethical considerations in scientific mentoring.
• Compare mentoring approaches.
• Articulate a mentoring philosophy.

Course materials

Readings, which will not be weekly, will be posted here, along with summaries when relevant.

Week 1

• Notes: Summary.
• Readings: Reading for week 2.

Week 2

• Case studies: Case studies.

Week 3

• Writing guide: Mentoring philosophy.
• Case studies: Case studies.
• Worksheet: Communication worksheet.

Week 4

• Case studies: Case studies.
• Readings: Reading for week 5.

Week 5

• Notes: Summary.
• Readings: Reading 1 and Reading 2 for week 6.

Week 6

• Case studies: Case study.
• Worksheet: Bias worksheet.
• Readings: Reading 1 and Reading 2 for week 7.