Mentoring of Research Faculty

Transcription

1 Date: 1/21/2011 Mentoring of Research Faculty Rev. 1.0 Page 1 of Purpose This policy and procedure establishes guidelines by which formal mentoring of research designated tenure system faculty will be offered. 2.0 Scope (Persons Affected) This policy applies to all tenure system research designated faculty. 3.0 Policy Evidence shows that formal mentoring based on best practices makes a positive difference in achieving career success. The CON provides formal mentorship to all research designated tenure stream faculty as specified below under procedures. Faculty members can determine the level of formal mentorship needed or opt out of formal mentorship completely upon written request. Faculty who opt out of formal mentoring, can later participate in the mentor program upon written request. Mentoring excellence will be considered in the annual review of faculty. Formal mentorship mechanisms will be evaluated in five year cycles, at a minimum. Evaluation criteria will include measures of research productivity, e.g., grants submitted, grants funded, publications, etc, as well as mentor/mentee perception of value of the relationships/opportunities. Note: In addition to formal mentorship, informal mentorship opportunities are provided regularly through 1) monthly Research Seminars, 2) Visiting Scholars, 3) Research Retreats, 4) Ad hoc training workshops, and 5) internal and external grant reviews. 4.0 Definitions Junior level faculty: Assistant professors in the tenure stream Mid level faculty: Associate professors who have obtained tenure. Senior level faculty: Professors who have obtained tenure. Formal mentoring: when one or more mentors are intentionally assigned to a mentee and assume responsibility for facilitating the professional development of the mentee through

2 activities such as providing information, advice, encouragement, and connections to other mentors, colleagues, and professional networks. Clinical Trial: a prospective biomedical or behavioral research study involving human subjects, which is designed to answer questions about the effects of a biomedical or behavioral intervention. This includes interventions whose goal is to initiate or change behavior (diet, physical activity, cognitive therapy, etc.) in a target population (such as physicians or consumers) by introducing information resources and services. 5.0 Responsibilities The Research Committee (RC) has responsibility for development of the academic calendar for professional development offerings, which includes research seminars, visiting scholars, retreats and ad hoc training workshops. These opportunities will feature appropriate presenters and topics to help research faculty advance their programs of research. The Associate Dean for Research (ADR) has responsibility for individual mentoring of faculty, including development of goals, identification of an appropriate external mentor, coordination of grant reviews and writing group seminars. Individual faculty have responsibility for determining which mentorship activities will be most beneficial and for utilizing mentorship to advance their research program, with a goal of R01 funding. The Research Secretary has responsibility for advertising, coordination of rooms and equipment and general clerical support for all mentoring opportunities. The Nursing Research Center (NRC) has responsibility for providing evaluation data on the mentorship program. College Advisory Committee (CAC) has responsibility to execute annual self and peer evaluations, which will include mentoring excellence. 6.0 s The following mentorship opportunities will be provided: Mentorship Program: External Mentors (Available to new research designated faculty in their first 2 years) Request External Mentor 1. Faculty member should identify NIH funded experts in their area of research. 2. Faculty member should submit written request to Associate Dean for Research to work with an external mentor. A biosketch of the external mentor should be included.

3 Initiate External Mentor Agreement and Process 1 st Payment Consider 1 year Extension or Identification of New Mentor Process final payment/initiate 2 nd Year Agreement Evaluate External Mentor Program 3. Associate Dean for Research will approve or work with faculty member until an appropriate mentor is identified. 4. Faculty member should confirm willingness of approved mentor to provide mentorship for 1 year and notify Associate Dean for Research of mentor s agreement. 5. Associate Dean for Research will notify Research Secretary to initiate paperwork. 1. Research secretary will send external mentor letter along with University professional services agreement. 2. Research secretary will initiate request for payment 6 months after mentorship begins. 1. Faculty member should consult with Associate Dean for Research concerning possibility of continuing the mentorship for a 2 nd year or possibility of identifying a new mentor. (Note: If a new mentor is requested, faculty member should provide copy of new mentors biosketch for AD review. AD for Research will work with faculty to identify an appropriate mentor.) 2. Faculty member should contact mentor to confirm willingness to continue with mentorship arrangement a 2 nd full year, or contact new mentor to confirm willingness to provide mentorship for 1 year. 3. Faculty member should notify Associate Dean for Research when mentor is confirmed. 4. Associate Dean for Research will notify Research Secretary to initiate paperwork. 1. Research secretary will initiate request for 2 nd payment after 12 months of mentorship. 2. Research secretary will send External mentor letter along with professional services agreement to extend mentorship with existing mentor or to initiate mentorship with new mentor. 3. Research secretary will initiate request for payment after 6 months of mentorship. 4. Research secretary will initiate request for payment after 12 months of mentorship. 1. Research Committee members will develop a mentor/mentee evaluation survey and update survey as needed. 2. Research secretary will send mentor/mentee an evaluation to complete when the final request for payment is submitted. 3. Research secretary will follow up 3 times, three weeks apart if survey is not received. No follow up will be attempted after the 3 rd request. 4. Research secretary will compile responses for Research Committee discussion as requested.

4 Mentorship Program: Associate Dean for Research Mentorship (Available to research designated faculty in the pre tenure phase.) Schedule Monthly Meetings Meet with Faculty 1. Research Secretary contacts tenure stream faculty to schedule monthly meetings with the Associate Dean for Research. 2. One week prior to meeting, Research Secretary contacts each faculty member to request agenda for meeting. 1. Associate Dean meets with each tenure stream faculty member at least monthly to review goals and research program progress. Mentorship Program: Research Quality Assurance (Available to all CON faculty conducting clinical research.) Schedule RQA Meeting 1. Faculty member receives funding to conduct clinical research. 2. RQA meetings are scheduled and conducted as outlined in the CON RQA policy. Mentorship Program: Visiting Scholars (Available to all research designated tenure system faculty.) Identify Visiting Scholars Coordinate Itinerary for Visiting Scholars Meet with Visiting Scholars Evaluate Visiting Scholar 1. Research Committee identifies NIH funded experts in areas of research congruent with CON research designated faculty. Research Committee members contact faculty identified to confirm willingness to visit MSU during time period identified. 1. Research Secretary coordinates Visiting Scholar travel and builds an itinerary for the visit. Scholars conduct 2 formal presentations around their work or research topics requested. Faculty and PhD students are also invited to meet individually with Scholars. 1. Faculty member meets with Scholar at assigned time to receive mentorship specific to their program of research. 1. Research Secretary will collect written evaluations from each individual who attends the public presentation and/or individual meeting with Visiting Scholar. Mentorship Program: Sabbatical (Available to research designated tenured faculty.) Request Sabbatical 1. Faculty member should request a sabbatical leave from the Dean following procedures outlined in the Faculty Handbook. Approve 1. The Dean meets with faculty member to clarify/refine the Sabbatical request. 2. The Dean approves/disapproves the sabbatical request.

5 7.0 Policy Enforcement Formal mentor is optional. Faculty may opt in/ out of all mentorship opportunities. 8.0 Related Documents CON RQA Policy & Faculty Handbook 9.0 Contacts The following individuals may be contacted with questions related to this policy and procedure: Associate Dean for Research Nursing Research Center Coordinator 10.0 Revision History Reviewed by: Rev. Modification Research GPC UPC CAC Date No. Committee 10/25/ New policy 11/18/2011 N/A N/A N/A 11.0 Approvals Rev. No. Date Dean s office Approval 0 12/19/2011