Become a Faculty Mentor

"Be the change you want to see in the world." - Gandhi

Faculty mentors are necessary to be effective role models as creative/critical thinkers by challenging students to discover new knowledge.  In addition, this interaction in research and creative projects can achieve a higher level of learning that is unique to undergraduate students at EKU.

Each faculty can become a mentor and potentially work with some of the most inspired, innovative, and creative undergraduates at EKU.  

Become a Faculty Mentor

1.  Discover the possibilities

          a.  View information session

          b.  UP Showcase in the Spring Semester

2.  Make a plan for your projects and identify your needs

          a.  Reviewing the existing content in your discipline

          b.  Project planning

          c.  Data collection and/or analysis

          d.  Writing, performing and/or presenting

3.  Identify students in your classes who are good candidates for mentees

          a.  Focus on the classes that are relevant to your project, either in terms of content or skills

          b.  Can’t find one?

               i.  Ask your colleagues who are teaching relevant courses to identify star students in their classes

               ii.  Post an announcement on our website (provide a brief description of the project, how many students you need, and what their tasks will involve) – Provide link

               iii.  Check with us for students who have submitted a mentor match-up application

4.  Set up regular meetings with the student(s) to discuss the project and to train them on the tasks

          a.  Break the project into attainable steps

          b.  Create a schedule with clear objectives and deadlines for each step

5.  Create a semester-long plan and a long-term plan

          a.  Semester-long plan involves the work that the student will do on the current project

          b.  Long-term plan involves channeling students toward opportunities to develop their own project, which can be published, presented and/or performed in their last year

               i.  Academic Journals

               ii.  Kentucky academy of science, professional conferences, and undergraduate specific conferences 

               iii.  Posters at the Capitol typically in march, submissions due in early december

               iv.  UP Showcase in the Spring Each year