This program is an initiative that came forward from the Academic Online Committee. Members felt strongly that there were not enough resources for faculty that were new to online instruction. In an effort to help alleviate the challenges that can come from developing an online course for the first time, the Online Faculty Mentoring Program was developed.
If I want to have a mentor, how do I start the process?
A:
Contact Melissa Landin, Sandra Morisette or Anthony Titus. We will do a preliminary assessment and then try to match you with a mentor. In the spring of 2008, we will be running a trial program with just a few mentors and mentees, with full roll out in the Fall of 2008. If you are interested, please let us know!
Contact Melissa Landin, Sandra Morisette or Anthony Titus. We will get some basic information from you and then we will match you as mentees are available.
Typically this process involves one academic calendar year. But, this is completely up to the mentor and the mentee. You will sign a contract that will require you to lay out how much communication and what type of communication you will have. Depending on the needs of the mentee, you could have a lot of contact or a little contact.
There are a lot of benefits to being a mentor, including but not limited to developing new skills and applications of knowledge about teaching in the online format. The program also includes a stipend. To read more on these you can find them in our D2L landing page, under content.
Why not! This is a great way to get someone to actively help steer you in the correct directions as you develop your new course. This person will be an excellent resource for you.
The OFMP also supports the Online Learning Co-ops. These are great ways for faculty to come together and share what they have been doing. You can find a list of these on our landing page as well.
The goal of the OFMP is not to dictate what content you use in your course. We are here to help you find ways to present that material in an innovative way. Thus we try to match within discipline, but when we can't we try to stay within the broader context of Humanities and Sciences.
What is the time frame for a mentor/mentee relationship?
A:
It is thought that the mentee will sit in on a mentors class for a semester and then when the mentee is running his/her course, the mentor will do the same. Thus we anticipate this to be a two semester commitment, or one academic calendar year.
