Identifying Successful Mentor Programs

The project is to identify and characterize those qualitiesthat make a mentor program, especially at the universitylevel, successful. The study examines the most prevalenteffective aspects of mentor programs through one-on-oneinterviews with administrators of successful programs oncampus as well as a review of literature. This allowed forthe integration of actual practical-application referencesthat aligned with current research, resulting in a full,multidimensional view of mentoring. A matrix wasproduced as part of a gap analysis that will be utilizedto create a general model. This model will be used fora college mentor program, although it could easily beadapted to other mentor environments. The project willtarget tangible, quantifiable evidence supporting effectivementorship programs. The results of this project will be toprovide characteristics and direction to build a foundationfor or further develop a mentor program. A committeewill review the project and consider it as a tool to increaseretention and graduation rates of underrepresentedminorities for students and faculty. A university-levelprogram may be the end result of this project, andportions of the project may find applications elsewhere indeveloping faculty programs. Additional research wouldinclude applying the outcomes further to assist otherorganizations and universities.