The ACUMent (Across CU Mentoring Center) provides three types of mentoring programs. Faculty at all career stages, including pre-tenure faculty, non-tenure-track instructional faculty, tenured and senior faculty, can apply as either mentees or mentors. They may apply to participate in one or more of these programs and are encouraged to reapply in subsequent years if their preferred program/match is unavailable. Our goals are to help faculty access larger networks, reduce isolation, build community, increase confidence and commitment, aid in career development, and demystify informal cultural and institutional norms.

Three Types of Mentoring Programs

 Peer Mentoring Circles: groups of 5-7 faculty members who provide mutual mentoring through a self-sustaining community around focused discussion and interests or a common career stage/experience. For example, if there is interest, circles can be formed with BIPOC faculty, Women in Leadership Roles, Lab Scientists, International Faculty, Faculty Parents, Instructors, New Faculty, Junior Faculty approaching tenure, Associate Professors, etc. Potential topics for discussion could be writing advice, research productivity, time management, healthy work-life balance, creating a dossier, or anything they are interested in discussing. 

 Mentor Matches: consist of 1 mentor with 1-2 mentees outside of their unit/department. Mentoring pairs are expected to attend an orientation and meet at least once per month during the academic year.

 Peer Coaching: consists of 1-3 experts and whatever number of faculty are interested in a particular subject/topic. Examples: publishing in journals, getting a book contract with an academic press, securing grant funding, constructing a review CV, and developing a writing/creative practice. The duration of coaching may vary depending on the topic area and faculty interest, and the goal of the coaching sessions. They are typically a single session lasting 1-2 hours.

There is a common application for all tenured, tenure-track, and instructor/teaching track faculty whether they want to be a mentee or mentor. Mentor-Mentee matches and placement in Mentoring Circles are made based on responses to the application. Offerings for Peer Coaching will be created based upon interest level.

The application for the 2022-2023 Academic Year is now closed. The 2023-2024 application will open on Wednesday, March 1, 2023 and close on Wednesday, April 12, 2023.
 

Why Be a Mentor or Mentee? 

  • Share knowledge
  • Celebrate successes
  • Become a better leader
  • Change someone’s world
  • Work through challenges
  • Empower through example
  • Be inspired by your mentee
  • Share resources/connections
  • Shape the leaders of tomorrow
  • Expand your network/perspective
  • Make a difference to someone else’s life
  • Gain insight into generational differences
  • Embed what you’ve learned through teaching
  • Build a campus community of support for junior colleagues

  • Increase your knowledge
  • Get help with motivation
  • Hear words of encouragement
  • Share your stories with a trusted ally
  • Hear opinions on subjects you want to know about
  • Ask for accountability for achieving the goals you set
  • Get insight into ways to strengthen areas of your life
  • Discuss goals, planning, and strategies for success in academia
  • Gain the perspective of a senior scholar outside of your program
  • Identify opportunities, resources, networks, and communities of support

If you have questions, contact:

Harsha Ganga, Faculty Director, Mid-Career Faculty Development, Office of Faculty Affairs (gharsha@colorado.edu)
Francisca Antman, Faculty Director, Early-Career Faculty Development, Office of Faculty Affairs (francisca.antman@colorado.edu)