The GRADS MentorSHPE Groups (GMG) focus on the need for our GRaduate & Advanced Degree Students to develop skills that can help them survive and thrive in graduate school and beyond. These mentoring groups provide our GRADS with a safe space where they can discuss professional experiences and challenges with more experienced colleagues and facilitators.
Benefits of the group mentoring format:
- Adding peer advice increases the diversity of input and perspectives
- Provides a good mechanism for accountability that makes mentoring effective
- Goal setting is easier with more perspectives contributing to the process
- Senior people reach multiple mentees efficiently
- Allows all group members to lead and learn at the same time
- Broadens the network of the participants
- Can be a lot of fun!
GMG groups begin in the fall semester, take a winter break and pick back up in the spring. Groups meet at least once a month in Sept, Oct, Nov, Feb, March and April. Each group focuses on a topic area related to life in graduate school and planning for life after graduation.
Upcoming Cohorts
Applicants choose their top three group choices in the application process. These are some of the sample group topics available.
Writing
Do you need help writing that paper or dissertation chapter? If your answer is yes, this group is perfect for you. Join others in a journey of 8 weeks to go over practical advice to help you finish that important writing project.
Preparing for a job in academia
Do you wonder how different it is to apply for a job in industry when you have an advanced degree? Join this group to discuss important aspects of applying for a job in industry like how to search for jobs, leveraging your personal network, preparing your resume, and getting ready for an interview.
Collecting data and keeping a lab notebook
Is your lab notebook a little disorganized? This group will go over practical tips to keep your experiment data organized.
Conflict resolution
As a graduate student, you might find yourself having differences with colleagues, advisors, and administrators. How do you deal with those? This group will go over strategies for conflict resolution that can help you navigate some of these delicate professional relationships.
Public Speaking Skills
Are you looking to develop your speaking skills for presentations? Join this group to learn tips and tricks and practice the skills as you receive peer and facilitator feedback.
Sustainable Networking
Does networking sometimes feel transactional? This group will explore the skills of sustainable networking that is designed for both parties to benefit and increase success.
Requirements
- To be eligible for the GMG program, you must be an active SHPE member. You can learn more about joining here
- You must be a graduate or advanced degree student.
- You must fill out an application request form
Dates
Group Facilitator Application Open: Aug 18th – Sept 4th
Student Membership Application Open: August 18th – September 6th
Group Assignments Released: Sept 11th
Facilitator Training & Planning Meeting: Sept 5th @ 6:30pm EST
Participant Training & Kickoff: September 7th @ 7pm EST
Group Monthly Meetings (specific date and time based on participant and facilitator schedule): 9/11-11/17 & 2/1 -4/29
Fall Networking Event: Oct 3rd @ 7pm EST
Spring Kickoff & Networking Event: Feb 1st @7pm EST
FAQs
GMGs are meant to be small. If we receive more forms than spots, we might not be able to accept all who request to join. We will accept 25-40 members depending on facilitator availability.
The GMS uses the circle methods where each group of 3-5 participants (mentees) meet with 1 – 2 facilitators (mentors)
Yes, in your request form, you can select all the groups you are interested in. However, if you are accepted into the program, you will be assigned to just one.
In your application, you will be asked to write a Statement of Interest. This is your opportunity to tell us what your goals are, what type of help you need, and what type of mentors/facilitators would be great for you.
Groups meet at least once a month beginning in September and meet through November. They will take a winter break in December and January and begin meeting again in February with a final wrap up in April. Group facilitators will poll their participants for the best meeting time for the whole group. It is important that participants are committed to attending each monthly meeting.
Become a GRADS MentorSHPE Groups Facilitator
We invite assistant, associate, and full professors, as well as teaching professors, adjuncts, or professionals with a graduate or advanced degree to serve as a GMG facilitator.
Group facilitators are matched with a group of 3-5 GRADS. SHPE will offer ongoing support and development for facilitators with an orientation introducing the GMG model, best facilitation practices, and preparation for the first group meeting.
We anticipate a time commitment of 10 hours over a period over the academic year.
- One hour orientation meeting
- One hour kick off meeting
- At least 6 one-hour meetings with group
- One hour closing meeting
- One hour debrief at the end of the program
There is a $500 honorarium for facilitators.