The Role of the Mentor

The role of the mentor is not a casual one. It is a serious commitment, one your mentee is depending on.

As a mentor, you are committing to:

• Attending/completing mentorship training as offered.
• Spending time with your mentee by phone or face-to-face and reviewing materials as requested.
• Active participation in your mentee’s life, including the possibility of visiting their campus.
• Discretion with what you know about your mentee and their institution for their privacy and dignity.
• Respecting your mentee’s time, opinions, and decisions.
• Attending the ABACC Annual Conference—the easiest and most logical place to have physical, face-to-face time with your mentee. Beyond that, it is important that you are continually honing your skills and encouraging your mentee to do the same.
• Not approaching every situation with, “The way I do it...” or “At my institution, we...”
• Patience and understanding—recognizing that mentoring is a process that takes work and time.
• Completing the Mentee Evaluation Form at the completion of your program.