Establish a mentoring system
An inclusive workplace culture is a healthy environment for all. To establish a positive workplace environment, the ALBA Declaration on Equity & Inclusion advises to establish a mentoring system. This article provides useful tips & resources on best practices about mentoring.
Issues
Women and minorities have seldom benefitted from what is known as “the old boys’ network” that has perpetuated the systematic advantages afforded to members of the dominant groups in academia. Developing supportive networks means learning and practicing mentoring skills within their affinity group. Deloitte Ltd. found that those employees intending to stay with their organizations for more than five years are twice as likely to have a mentor in their organization.
Suggested actions
- Incorporate what has been the age-old method of scouting and training the new generation.
- Provide mentoring training, programs, as well as informal events for women and minorities.
Resources
Guidelines:
- Success strategies from women in STEM: A portable mentor; Pritchard and Grant, 2015
- The Importance of Mentoring for Underrepresented Minority Faculty; Zambrana et al., 2015, Am Ed Res J, U of Maryland (US)
- Your Science Avengers: How to Assemble Your Mentoring Team; Society for Neuroscience Neuronline
Examples of best practices:
- Free online Peer Mentoring in STEM: Training for Mentors; Ohio State Univ, online, Canvas Network, 2019 (US)
- Increasing STEM success: A near-peer mentoring program in the physical sciences. Zaniewski & Reinholz, 2016, Intl J STEM Ed, Arizona State Univ. (US)
- When mentoring matters: a French mentoring program for women in science. Julie Batut, Marina Kvaskoff & May C. Morris; Nature Biotechnology
