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Texas Tech University

About

Faculty Mentorship Academy

Champions for Faculty Success

 

Mission Statement

The Faculty Mentorship Academy helps faculty empower each other to achieve their personal and professional goals.

Purpose

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Prometheus | Texas Tech Public Art Collection

The Faculty Mentorship Academy (FMA) was developed under the direction of the Office of the Provost for Faculty Success based on data collected for the NSF ADVANCE-TTU Adapt Grant (Dr. Stephanie Jones, PI) as well as multiple years of data from the Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education (COACHE) survey. In addition, the FMA co-directors reviewed data gathered by Dr. Raegan Higgins and Dr. Elizabeth Trejos-Castillo through their report on Perceived Barriers to Tenure. Many others on campus advocated for the need for faculty mentoring. The FMA is the collective result of data and advocacy which showed that faculty of all ranks desired access to more resources focused on professional advancement and work-life integration.  

The initiative's purpose was not to take the place of existing mentoring programs and efforts on the Texas Tech campus but to supplement them with a centralized institutional effort. 

During the planning phase, FMA co-directors worked with TTU mentoring groups such as the Faculty of Color Success Committee, the Faculty Success Committee, and the Chair's Academy to understand existing efforts and identify needs. In addition, FMA co-directors researched other university faculty mentorship programs and attended conferences and workshops to determine best practices. Co-directors are also trained facilitators for the Entering Mentoring curricula from the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER) program at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.  

 

The objectives of FMA include:
  1. Create an academic structure for faculty at Texas Tech University that supports current mentoring activities by individuals, departments, areas, schools, and colleges. 
  2. Support Texas Tech University's goal to enhance faculty mentoring through resources, programming, and policy development. 
  3. Increase awareness of mentorship's value and contribution toward faculty success at Texas Tech University. 

Program Overview   Explore Resources

 

Leaders & SupportFaculty Mentorship Academy Seal

The Faculty Mentorship Academy is supported by the Teaching, Learning, and Professional Development Center (TLPDC) and the Faculty Success Office through the Office of the Provost.

 

Leadership

Barbie Chambers(Director) is an associate professor of practice in the College of Media & Communication (CoMC). She's worked for Texas Tech University for 15 years in the Department of Professional Communication at CoMC and the Area of Management at the Rawls College of Business.

Suzanne Tapp(Assistant Vice Provost of Faculty Success) has been with the Teaching, Learning, and Professional Development Center (TLPDC) since the late 90s.

 

FMA Advisory Council

Jorge A. Ramírez (Co-Director) is the “Walter and Anne Huffman Professor of Law” at the School of Law. He was born and raised in McAllen and has taught at Tech for over 22 years. His passion for teaching has earned him a reputation as an exceptional instructor among colleagues across our campus and the globe.

Lisa Garner Santa(Co-Director) is Artist-Performer and Professor of Flute in the J.T. & Margaret Talkington College of Visual and Performing Arts and Director of the TTU Institute for Inclusive Excellence.

  

The Office of Faculty Success acknowledges founding co-directors David Doerfert, Jorge Ramirez, Lisa Garner Santa, and Barbie Chambers for their leadership, expertise, and support to establish THE FMA. Their contributions, along with Assistance Vice Provost Suzanne Tapp, have been pivotal in shaping the initiative's framework and fostering its growth.

 

FAQs - About the Faculty Mentorship Academy

Want to learn more about the FMA Mentorship Program? Read the FAQs 

Why was the Faculty Mentorship Academy created?

The Faculty Mentorship Academy (FMA) was developed under the direction of the Office of the Provost for Faculty Success based on data collected for the NSF ADVANCE-TTU Adapt Grant (Dr. Stephanie Jones, PI) as well as multiple years of data from the Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education (COACHE) survey. In addition, the FMA co-directors reviewed data gathered by Dr. Raegan Higgins and Dr. Elizabeth Trejos-Castillo through their report on Perceived Barriers to Tenure. Many others on campus advocated for the need for faculty mentoring. The FMA is the collective result of data and advocacy which showed that faculty of all ranks desired access to more resources focused on professional advancement and work-life integration.

How is the Faculty Mentorship Academy different from other mentorship programs on campus?

First, it is important to emphasize that the Faculty Mentorship Academy is meant to supplement, not replace, discipline-specific mentorship programs. The FMA was created to augment existing mentorship programs and resources each college/school provides with institutional programs and support. It also serves to provide mentorship and professional development opportunities for faculty in all career stages, ranks, and positions.

What workshops and training programs are available for mentors and mentees?

The Faculty Mentorship Academy has developed initiatives, programs, and opportunities specific to professional development, mentorship, and belongingness. In addition, FMA works with the Teaching, Learning, and Professional Development Center and others on campus to coordinate workshops and trainings for mentees and mentors. Programming examples include speaker series, moderated discussions, symposia, online (synchronous and asynchronous) resources through Academic Impressions, and community-building activities.

What are some of the significant barriers to promotion and tenure identified by TTU faculty addressed by the Faculty Mentorship Academy?

Among other things, TTU faculty have indicated clarity of department guidelines about promotion criteria (e.g., the relative value of research/creative activity vs. teaching effectiveness and service) as a significant barrier to promotion and tenure. Our partnership with the Office of Faculty Success helps us to provide information directly from the Provost's Office and in collaboration with departments and colleges. 

What outcomes does the Faculty Mentorship Academy anticipate?

FMA anticipates the following outcomes:

  • Increasing transparency as faculty prepare for the tenure, continuing appointment, and promotion process
  • Retaining faculty
  • Ensuring faculty have a point of contact for questions
  • Onboarding new faculty to TTU more quickly
  • Promoting belongingness for all faculty
  • Supporting career development and advancement (e.g., promotion from associate to full).
  • Encouraging professional development in teaching, service, engagement, and work/life integration. 

 

Who is your target mentee audience, and why them?

The Faculty Mentorship Academy focuses on new faculty and those in new and mid-career faculty of all ranks. We focus on these audiences because data from TTU faculty and administrator surveys indicated the importance of increasing mentorship opportunities, clarifying department/college promotion processes, and addressing other barriers to career development. 

Who is your target mentor audience and what will be their focus?

Our target mentor audience includes faculty who have received tenure or continuing appointment at the ranks of senior lecturer, associate or full professor of practice, and associate or full professor from each of the 10 colleges plus the School of Veterinary Medicine and the Law School. We consider the mentor responsibilities to focus on 1) assisting mentees with developing their understanding of what is required to advance their ranks, 2) assisting mentees with their understanding of collegiality, navigating expectations, networking, and opportunities for collaboration, and 3) assisting mentees with developing professional and work/life integration.

 

Contact Us

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Teaching, Learning, & Professional Development Center

  • Address

    University Library Building, Room 136, Mail Stop 2044, Lubbock, TX 79409-2004
  • Phone

    806.742.0133
  • Email

    tlpdc@ttu.edu