What does effective mentoring actually look like, how can institutions prioritize it, and how can you obtain it?

Produced in partnership with NCFDD and the Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education (COACHE) at Harvard University, this white paper examines the persistent gap between how important mentoring is and how effective it feels to faculty.

Drawing on national survey data and real faculty experiences, the paper offers a fresh perspective on mentoring in higher education—and a path forward. Whether you're leading faculty development or navigating your own mentoring needs, this paper offers insights to help you move from intention to impact.

You can expect to uncover:  

• Why traditional, one-size-fits-all mentoring often fails to meet faculty needs.
• The key disparities in mentoring effectiveness across career stages and identities.
• What a needs-based approach to mentoring looks like and how mentoring networks can provide effective mentoring more broadly.
• Institutional strategies—like Emory University’s approach—that are moving the needle on faculty satisfaction and retention.