Faculty-to-Faculty Mentoring Communities

The Pew FTLC Mentoring Program offers structured meeting opportunities to gather with colleagues and explore the multiple sources of guidance and connection available at GVSU for professional growth and development.  An experienced faculty member serves as a mentor to groups of 6-12 faculty.  Each session centers around a particular topic but the content is flexible and responsive to the group members.  Goals and direction are often quite personal and specific for each person. 

Digital Badge: To earn a badge associated with this mentoring groups and for more information about the FacultyBadges@GVSU Initiative, visit this site.

Faculty-to-Faculty (F2F) Mentoring Program

Throughout their careers, faculty are encouraged to seek mentoring relationships with other faculty. Acknowledging that one size does not fit all, the Pew FTLC offers a range of mentoring opportunities. As you move throughout your career, your needs will change and we invite you to explore our mentoring offerings in coming years. 

The Pew FTLC mentoring programs are designed to complement the mentoring offered by colleges and/or departments. We have adopted what is called a Mutual Mentoring model, with small groups of faculty, recognizing that every faculty member has expertise and experience to contribute to a mentoring group.

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2023-2024 Faculty-to-Faculty Mentoring Communities

F2F Mentoring Group

Meeting Days/Times

Specific Meeting Dates

Meeting Location

Years 2—6 Tenure Track Faculty (Group 1)

Mondays; 9 a.m.–10 a.m.

FALL 2023: 9/18, 10/16, 11/13, 12/4

WINTER 2024: 1/22, 2/26, 3/25, 4/16

In-person on the Allendale Campus

Years 2—6 Tenure Track Faculty (Group 2)

Tuesdays; 10 a.m.–11 a.m.

FALL 2023:  9/19, 10/17, 11/14, 12/5

WINTER 2024: 1/23, 2/27, 3/26, 4/9

Online/Virtual with Zoom

Years 2—6 Tenure Track Faculty (Group 3)

Wednesdays; 10 a.m.–11 a.m.

FALL 2023:  9/20, 10/18, 11/15, 12/6

WINTER 2024: 1/24, 2/28, 3/27, 4/10

In-person on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus

Years 2—6 Tenure Track Faculty (Group 4)

Wednesdays; 11 a.m.–12 p.m.

FALL 2023:  9/21, 10/19, 11/16, 12/7

WINTER 2024: 1/24, 2/28, 3/27, 4/10

Online/Virtual with Zoom

Years 2—6 Tenure Track Faculty (Group 5)

Thursdays; 9 a.m.–10 a.m.

FALL 2022:  9/22, 10/20, 11/10, 12/8

In-person on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus

Years 2—6 Visiting & Affiliate Faculty (Group 2)

Fridays; 10 a.m.–11 a.m.

FALL 2023:  9/22, 10/20, 11/17, 12/8
WINTER 2024: 1/26, 3/1, 3/29, 4/12

Online/Virtual with Zoom

Mid-Career Faculty

Tuesdays; 12:30 p.m.–1:30 p.m.

FALL 2023:  9/19, 10/17, 11/14, 12/5
WINTER 2024:  2/6, 2/27, 3/19, 3.16

In-person on the Allendale Campus


Did you know that Grand Valley State University has renewed its Institutional Membership with the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD), a nationally recognized, independent organization providing online career development and mentoring?

The subscription entitles ALL faculty, academic staff, post doc and graduate students access to tools to increase research and writing productivity and improve work-life balance.  These tools include:

Learn how to activate your FREE NCFDD Membership by visiting our NCFDD webpage.

Activate your FREE NCFDD Membership

Learn more about NCFDD by visiting our NCFDD webpage.


YEARS 2 THROUGH 6 TENURE TRACK FACULTY

Semesters: Fall and Winter

Meeting Schedule: Three or four meetings per semester

  • Because there are multiple Years 2—6 groups, please refer to the table above for specific meeting dates/times.

Description: A small-group mentoring opportunity for faculty beyond their first year of teaching at GVSU. Groups meet monthly, or as desired, over a meal or coffee to discuss topics such as teaching, professional development, scholarship, and service opportunities. In past years, participants have reported that they appreciated getting to know faculty outside their disciplines and to talk about faculty life in a relaxed and confidential settings. This mentoring program is meant to complement departmental mentoring. Mentoring groups are organized separately for tenure-track and visiting/affiliate faculty.

Through participation in this Mentoring Group, faculty will:

  • Learn from and with faculty from across disciplines and the university
  • Explore teaching and learning topics of interest to the group
  • Establish short-term and long-terms professional goals

YEARS 2 THROUGH 6 VISITING & AFFILIATE FACULTY

Semesters: Fall and Winter

Meeting Schedule: Three or four meetings per semester

  • Because there are multiple Years 2—6 groups, please refer to the table above for specific meeting dates/times.

Description: A small-group mentoring opportunity for faculty beyond their first year of teaching at GVSU. Groups meet monthly, or as desired, over a meal or coffee to discuss topics such as teaching, professional development, scholarship, and service opportunities. In past years, participants have reported that they appreciated getting to know faculty outside their disciplines and to talk about faculty life in a relaxed and confidential settings. This mentoring program is meant to complement departmental mentoring. Mentoring groups are organized separately for tenure-track and visiting/affiliate faculty.

Through participation in this Mentoring Group, faculty will:

  • Learn from and with faculty from across disciplines and the university
  • Explore teaching and learning topics of interest to the group
  • Establish short-term and long-terms professional goals

MID-CAREER FACULTY MENTORING COMMUNITY

Semesters: Fall and Winter

Meeting Schedule:  Three or four meetings per semester; options to meet in person or virtually.

Description:  This group is intended for those Associate Professors who have achieved promotion and tenure and who wish to gather to discuss issues specific to mid-career faculty. Often, faculty at this stage have the opportunity to be more selective about the focus of their work while at the same time facing greater leadership responsibilities in their departments. 

Through participation in this Mentoring Group, faculty will: 

  • Reflect on their path to tenure with a strengths-based perspective 
  • Consider goals and direction for post-tenure teaching, scholarship, and service 
  • Explore connections within the GVSU university community, as well as disciplinary professional connections 
  • Reflect on professional development and strategies for long-term career satisfaction 

APPROACHING RETIREMENT FACULTY MENTORING COMMUNITY

Semesters: Fall and Winter

Meeting Schedule:  Three or four meetings per semester; options to meet in person or virtually.

Description: This group is intended for those  faculty who who wish to gather to discuss issues specific to  consideration of retirement. Often, faculty at this stage have the opportunity to be more selective about the focus of their work while at the same time facing greater leadership responsibilities in their departments. Discussion may include issues of mentoring others, legacy work, changing workload priorities, and  university opportunities.

Through participation in this Mentoring Group, faculty will: 

  • Reflect on their path to retirement with a strengths-based perspective 
  • Consider goals and direction for retirement and beyond
  • Explore connections within the GVSU university community, as well as disciplinary professional connections 
  • Reflect on professional development and strategies for long-term career satisfaction 

For additional information about any of these programs, please contact us at [email protected].



Page last modified February 1, 2024