Staff Mentorship Program calls for nominations, applications by May 23
The Staff Mentorship Program is looking for a few good men and women.
It’s hard to believe that the Staff Mentorship Program is approaching the end of its first year. During its inaugural year, more than 50 employees signed up to participate in the program. We are looking for a much larger number this year. The nomination and application process begins May 5.
As many of you know, the Staff Mentorship Program is a formal, voluntary program that pairs experienced staff with less experienced staff in a mentoring relationship. In this program, staff can cultivate contacts, explore challenges and enhance effectiveness as they design their personal growth and career paths at St. Thomas. The program also provides the opportunity to gather information, develop peer support, learn more about management and better understand the university's institutional culture.
Mentors and mentees must attend a mentoring workshop, and training must be completed shortly after mentors and mentees are paired. Only one mentee can be paired with a mentor. Mentoring pairs set their own schedules and participate in formal and informal programming for up to one year beginning Aug. 6.
Mentor
Nominate an individual(s) to be a mentor. Potential mentors must be full-time staff members, usually with three or more years of service at St. Thomas, who want to help newer or less experienced staff members acclimate to the campus community. Nominations can be made by members of the Academic and Administrative Leadership Group (see the list of members below) or another UST community member. The nominees will complete a skills inventory to help Human Resources make the best matches.
If you know a person you think would be a great mentor and who would be willing to fulfill this yearlong commitment, download a Mentor Nomination Form and Skills Inventory (a link to this form also can be found on the HR Mentorship Web page).
Mentee
A mentee is any regular, full- or part-time staff member who is interested in developing a mentor-mentee relationship. This individual is interested in furthering her or his career development, receiving guidance, building a network of professional contacts with the university and learning how to reach appropriate channels and a new level of skills.
Mentees are provided information on potential mentors and are encouraged to arrange informational interviews with at least two potential mentors. After meeting, mentees and potential mentors submit their match preferences to Norma Beasant, the Staff Mentorship Program coordinator. The coordinator completes the matches.
Mentees do not need to be nominated. They simply complete an application form and Skills Inventory. If you would like to be a mentee, download a Mentee Nomination Form and Skills Inventory (a link to this form also can be found on the HR Staff Mentorship Web page).
Important 2008 dates
- May 23 – Deadline for mentor nominations and mentee applications
- August 6 – Official program kickoff (mentoring year begins)
- August 7 – Mentor-mentee workshop
All mentors and mentees are required to:
- Respond to a monthly online feedback questionnaire provided by Human Resources.
- Attend quarterly mentorship brown-bag luncheons.
Other time commitments include conversations by phone and e-mail, as well as scheduled meetings to discuss issues, concerns and goals.
Here are the members of the Academic and Administrative Leadership Group:
- Dr. Angie Barretta-Herman, associate vice president for academic affairs
- Dr. Ron Bennett , dean of the School of Engineering
- Monsignor Aloysius Callaghan, rector and vice president, St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity
- Jane Canney, vice president of student affairs
- Edna Comedy, associate vice president for human resources
- Dr. Mark Dienhart, executive vice president and chief administrative officer
- Marla Friederichs, associate vice president for enrollment services
- Linda Halverson, associate vice president and executive assistant to the executive vice president and chief administrative officer
- Doug Hennes, vice president for university and government relations
- Steve Hoeppner, executive director of development
- Dr. Susan Huber, interim dean of the School of Education
- Dr. Marisa Kelly, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
- Dr. Joe Kreitzer, associate vice president for academic affairs
- Dr. Sam Levy, vice president for information resources and technologies
- Tom Mengler, dean of the School of Law
- Dr. Lawrence Potter Jr., executive director of institutional diversity
- Dr. Chris Puto, dean of the Opus College of Business
- Dr. Thomas Rochon, executive vice president and chief academic officer
- Sister Katarina Schuth, ex-officio, chair of the faculty
- Dr. Gene Scapanski, vice president for mission
- Dr. Barbara Shank, dean of the School of Social Work
- Dr. Christopher Thompson, academic dean, St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity
- Mark Vangsgard, vice president for business affairs and chief financial officer
- Rachel Wobschall, executive director of alumni and constituent relations
- Dr. Susan Alexander, executive adviser to the president
The Staff Mentorship Program is offered by the Department of Human Resources Department and the Office of Institutional Diversity.
For more information, visit the Staff Mentorship Program Web page, e-mail the program or call Norma Beasant, (651) 962-6493, or Gina Zitzer, (651) 962-26901.
