The following parameters will define the IU East Mentoring Program:
- This voluntary program is designed primarily for "junior faculty," that is those who are either on a tenure-track appointment, or those who are in lecturer positions (visiting or otherwise); each member of the faculty will be apprised of the Mentor Program and have the opportunity to participate if he or she desires to do so;
- Mentors will be those full-time faculty who have been granted tenure at IU East and who volunteer to serve in the role; they will indicate their interest to the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and any restrictions they feel are appropriate with respect to their service (e.g., a division chair who is volunteering to serve as a mentor may wish to indicate those disciplines he or she would prefer to serve - excluding one's own); the mentor's role is advisory only;
- A division chair will not mentor someone within his/her division;
- Each member of the faculty electing to request a mentor is to be reminded that the mentor is not a substitute for the division chair, and that annual performance will be evaluated by the division chair;
- The President of the Faculty Senate, working in conjunction with the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and the members of the Academic Affairs Council, will provide an annual program for training and refreshment of mentors; new volunteers are expected to complete an annual program before serving as mentors;
- The President of the Faculty Senate will provide support for establishing mentor contacts;
- The establishment of a sense of trust will be one important characteristic of the mentor relationship; therefore, the mentor will treat discussions with his or her colleague as confidential.
