Graduate Student Mentorship Program

Developed and offered jointly by CESR, the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL), and Graduate Studies, this program aims to enhance the mentoring culture among graduate faculty and students at our university. Grounded in research on effective mentoring practices, the program will provide faculty with strategies to support graduate students through their academic programs and beyond, while empowering students to identify and cultivate meaningful mentoring relationships. Emphasis will be placed on mutual expectations, communication, cultural responsiveness, and career development.

The full schedule of sessions is listed below. All sessions will be held on the third Wednesday of each month, from noon to 1pm, via Zoom. Some sessions will be held jointly, giving faculty and graduate students to share their experiences and perspectives, whereas other sessions will be held separately, with dedicated space for either faculty or students. And, if you participate in 4 of the 6 sessions, you'll receive a mentoring certificate at the end of the year!

September 17 (Joint Session): Foundations of Mentoring

This kickoff session lays the groundwork for effective graduate mentoring by highlighting key MSU, Mankato policies and procedures related to graduate education as well as expectations for both mentors and mentees. Participants will explore the roles they play in the mentoring relationship and begin to reflect on what successful mentoring looks like in their context.

October 15 (Faculty Session): Establishing Effective Mentoring Relationships

Strong mentoring relationships rarely just happen. Instead, they have to be built with intention and care. This session dives into practical strategies faculty can use for laying a solid foundation for effective mentoring relationships with graduate students. Participants will work with a discussion guide for initial mentor/mentee meetings and a mentoring expectations agreement.

October 15 (Student Session): Mentoring Up: Getting What You Need as a Mentee

This session empowers graduate students to take an active role in their mentoring relationships. Participants will learn how to identify potential mentors, communicate their needs effectively, and build a network of support. The session will emphasize self-advocacy and practical tools for navigating the mentoring process with confidence.

November 19 (Faculty Session): Graduate Faculty Peer Panel

In this session, faculty will hear directly from experienced graduate mentors who will share their approaches, challenges, and lessons learned. Panelists will reflect on how they've built strong mentoring relationships, navigated difficult moments, and supported graduate student success. The session will include time for open Q&A and an opportunity for individual reflection on key takeaways from the discussion.

November 19 (Student Session): Graduate Student Peer Panel

Graduate students often learn the most from those just a few steps ahead. In this session, a panel of advanced graduate students and recent alumni will share their experiences navigating mentoring relationships' what worked, what didn't, and what they wish they'd known earlier. The session will include time for open Q&A and an opportunity for individual reflection on key takeaways from the discussion.

January 21 (Joint Session): Graduate Mentorship for Career Success

Mentoring is most effective when it supports not just progress through a student's program but also their long-term career success. In this session, faculty and graduate students will explore how to align academic experiences with career success. Participants will work on 'backwards plans' to map out key milestones and experiences needed to reach their/their students' goals, followed by an opportunity for sharing and reflection.

February 18 (Joint Session): The Final Stretch: Capstone Conversations for Student and Mentors

Whether it's a thesis or dissertation, an APP, or something else entirely, capstone projects are a defining part of graduate education. This session demystifies the process by outlining key policies, timelines, and expectations for both faculty and graduate students. Following a short presentation, breakout discussions (theses and dissertations/APPs and other options) led by experienced faculty will provide a space for sharing and reflection.

March 18 (Faculty Session): Navigating Challenging Mentorship Scenarios

Many faculty face mentoring challenges that are difficult to talk about, including strained communication, mismatched expectations, and situations that just feel stuck. This session offers a structured, reflective space to begin working through those challenges. Following a brief presentation on common challenges and research-informed strategies for addressing them, participants will engage in guided writing and reflection to explore their own mentoring dilemmas.