Office of the Provost and Dean of the Faculty Supporting Tenure-Track Colleagues, A Mentoring Checklist For Department Chairs

1. Mentoring in Departments

• Refer to the faculty mentoring program to understand the expectations for mentors, mentees, and chairs.
• Share the department's mentoring plan with new colleagues.
• Discuss the department’s expectations in regard to research, teaching, and service at Amherst, and the expectations of the field.
• Determine which department member(s) will be the designated mentor.
• Coordinate class visits for the semester with senior colleagues.  Some departments do not have class visits until the second semester.  Ensure that new colleagues know when department members will visit classes and that colleagues meet before and after each classroom observation to discuss the visit.
• Remind senior colleagues that it is helpful if new colleagues are invited to attend their classes.

• Ensure that new colleagues know the number of course preparations expected of them and the process for proposing new courses.

• Discuss the role of the ADC, preferably with the ADC(s) present, and what work they can be asked to do and not asked to do.
• Explain the role of the annual conversation in discussing progress toward tenure.
• Explain the department’s role in the reappointment and tenure processes.
• When relevant, explain the expectations for jointly appointed faculty. 

2. Discuss Resources Offered by the College
     Note the following opportunities that are available to colleagues:

• Orientation events for new faculty;
• Teaching and professional development workshops;
• Teaching consultations through the Center for Teaching and Learning;
• Instructional support available through the instructional librarians, the Writing Center, the Moss Quantitative Center, the Strategic Learning Center, Academic Technology Services, and the Center for Community Engagement;
• Services offered by the Office of Sponsored Research and Foundation Relations;
• Funding for speakers, to help faculty get to know their students, class field trips, and more;
• Five College seminars;
• Academic interns
• Book workshops (after first year at the college, funded through start-up funds or through a FRAP).
• Explain processes around reimbursement for travel/start-up funds.
• Explain how to order materials for the library.
• Explain the college’s course material purchasing program with Follette. 
• Explain how to get equipment and support from information technology staff.

3. Mentoring Beyond the Department

• Explain the role of the college’s faculty diversity and inclusion officers.
• Explain the role of the “college mentor”, who can mentor tenure-track faculty in their first three years at the college.
• Explain the college’s External Mentor Program (available after the first year at Amherst).
• Make sure that the colleague is receiving emails from the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity; (NCFDD).
• Make sure that new colleagues know about the “boot camps” offered through the NCFDD.
• Introduce colleagues to the Tips for Successful Mentoring and the NCFDD Mentoring Map.
• Remind colleagues about options available for peer mentoring.