Faculty mentors
Who are faculty mentors?
Mentors are professors in one of the six CBS departments, and have a wealth of experience that they can share with students regarding how to succeed in the academic environment. The College of Biological Sciences has a goal to pair every undergraduate student with a faculty mentor from the academic department most closely related to the student’s academic interest. This is one of the most significant benefits of being a biology student at a top research university!
How can a faculty mentor help me?
- General information
What can be expected of these student/faculty mentor relationships? The first meeting will entail sharing information about your background, current academic progress, and goals for the future. Your mentor may have suggestions about key classes that will be excellent elective courses that go beyond the courses required for the major. - Research
Your mentor may have ideas about research opportunities for undergraduates and/or information about which faculty labs have traditionally been good places for undergraduates to work. They are experts in their field, and will be able to guide you through preparing for a research career or graduate school. - Recommendation
After meeting with you several times to discuss your academic progress and personal goals, your mentor may know you well enough to write supporting letters when you are ready to apply for scholarships or for admission to graduate or professional programs.
How are faculty mentors assigned?
CBS Student Services works with each CBS department to pair students with a faculty mentor in their major or a related area. First-year students are asked to declare their CBS major during spring semester of their first year, and will therefore be assigned to a mentor during the following summer. Students are usually notified by email once they have been assigned to a faculty mentor. Faculty mentors receive updated lists of their advisees from their departments at least once each semester.
Who is my faculty mentor?
Students can check their APAS report or transcript online to learn the name of their faculty mentor. If a faculty mentor is not listed, CBS Student Services should be notified by calling 612-624-9717.
Lists of CBS faculty and their contact information: If you are unsure which department a particular professor is in, simply type his or her name into People Search.
How can I set up a meeting with my mentor?
You must take the initiative to arrange the first and each subsequent meeting with your faculty mentor. Although faculty mentors are busy people, they are usually quite willing and able to arrange time for a meeting if you provide a reasonable selection of possible times for an appointment. Scheduling the first meeting is probably the most challenging step in the whole process, but once you meet in person you'll be glad that you took the first step.
Tips for setting up a first meeting:
- Start with an e-mail message to your faculty mentor - provide one or two sentences about yourself, a brief statement of educational & professional goals, and an announcement that a phone call will follow in two or three days.
- Follow-up with a phone call in a couple of days - focus on arranging a specific time to meet.
- Be sure to show up on time for your meeting, usually arrangements are made to meet at your faculty mentor's office (verify location ahead of time).
How to prepare for a meeting with your faculty mentor
Once the first meeting is scheduled you're well on your way! Before the
first visit, you may find it helpful to check out the faculty mentor's
interests on the departmental web page since this may provide a foundation
for your initial conversation. However, you can expect that most of the
visit will focus on your academic progress, and how current plans are being
crafted to lead to a set of long-term goals. If you don't have specific
goals "that's OK!“ just make a list of your general areas of interest
and/or topics that you might like to explore.
