Mentoring and Support

Faculty Mentoring Program

The School of Education’s semi-formal mentoring program for first- and second-year faculty is intended to

1. Build community across the School of Education.
2. Help new members get off to a strong start to a new context.
3. Develop a professional support network for all faculty.

Both tenure-track and non-tenure-track faculty are eligible to participate. Mentees are matched with tenured faculty by the Associate Dean for Research with input from the dean, the department chair, and the search chair. The Dean’s Office covers the cost of breakfast, lunch, or coffee for each mentoring pair at least once a semester, and mentoring pairs are encouraged to attend other relevant SOE events together.

Writing Retreats

To support faculty scholarship and promote awareness of one another’s work that may lead to collaboration, the School of Education typically sponsors two daylong writing retreats a year for faculty. The associate dean for research serves as host for the retreats. The first one is held in late September and reserved for untenured and non-tenure-track faculty. The second, scheduled for January in the week prior to the start of the spring semester, is open to full-time faculty of any rank. Retreats typically take place on South Campus at the Inn Complete, with breakfast and lunch provided.

Future Professoriate Program

Syracuse University’s Future Professoriate Program (FPP) is a structured mentoring experience for graduate students who aspire to be faculty. The School of Education’s FPP chapter is co-led by Michael Gill, Assistant Professor in Cultural Foundations of Education, and James Rolling, Professor in Teaching & Leadership / College of Visual and Performing Arts. Applications for the program are typically due in May.

School of Education students who participate in the two-year program receive a special “certificate of university teaching” upon successfully developing and presenting a portfolio. Typically students will receive small professional development stipends in each of the two years. They are invited to participate in professional development workshops throughout the year sponsored by the Professional Development Office in the Graduate School and by the School of Education. Each May, students and their faculty mentors are invited to participate in a two-day professional development conference/retreat at White Eagle Conference Center.