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Graduate Mentoring Initiative (GMI)

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Overview

The Graduate Mentoring Initiative (GMI) offers a holistic mentoring program aimed at fostering a culture of faculty-graduate student mentoring across all academic disciplines. 

The GMI curriculum showcases lived experiences and resources at UC Davis, as well as  our own recognized and renowned mentors as campus leaders who promote the value and impact of positive mentoring experiences.  UC Davis faculty, appointed Mentor Fellows, facilitate the mentor program for the campus with Graduate Studies Director of Mentoring and Academic Success Initiatives. Faculty discuss best practices, helpful tools, and ways to grow and develop as mentors.

The program was developed in consultation with an advisory board of faculty, graduate students, and staff and piloted to a group of faculty across disciplines during Spring Quarter 2021. The content uses the “Entering Mentoring” curriculum from the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research as a base for the sessions.

Program Sessions

The program consists of six interactive sessions that faculty will participate in as a series with their cohort. The topics include:

  • Aligning Expectations
  • Maintaining Effective Communication
  • Addressing Identity and Belonging
  • Supporting Mentor and Mentee Well-Being
  • Promoting Research Self-Efficacy
  • Articulating a Mentoring Philosophy 

* Please note, there is not currently a session devoted entirely to employment. Academic Personnel offers workshops and resources on employment and the new contracts.

Mentor Fellows

Each GMI session includes UC Davis faculty facilitators (Mentor Fellows) who will lead discussions. Past and present Mentor Fellows are:

Program Details and Application

Dates: Tuesdays

October 15, October 22, October 29, November 5, November 12, November 19

Time: 10:00am-11:30am

Location: Walker Hall

Deadline to apply: October 4, 2024

Register Here!!

Cohort Size

The cohort will be limited to 20-25 participants. Applicants will be notified if they are accepted into the program. There will be a waitlist enabled and used as needed.

Eligibility

Applicants must be a member of a UC Davis graduate group or program and should be a member of the Academic Senate or have the following Academic Federation titles: Adjunct Professors, CE Specialists (with Educator without Salary appointment), and Professional Research series (with Educator without Salary appointment).

Contact

Elizabeth Sturdy, Director of Mentoring and Academic Success Initiatives

Graduate Mentoring Initiative Testimonials

“I think the program reinforced the kind of core values that I've held regarding my mentoring approach and it has equipped me with concrete tools and strategies to further improve the way I communicate with my mentees as well as enhance their sense of self-efficacy.” - Kevin Gee, Associate Professor, Education 

“The workshop forced me to think more critically about my mentoring philosophy and to develop tools for matching my philosophy to my actions. I think that’s been the biggest challenge for me - finding specific ways to mentor according to my philosophy, and the workshop helped a lot!” - Corrie Decker, Associate Professor, History

“What stood out to me the most from the program is understanding that each student is unique and mentoring must be tailored differently to each student based on their background, preferred communication style and career goals, among others.”- Gerardo Mackenzie, Associate Professor, Nutrition