The goal of the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) Mentoring Program is to integrate new full-time faculty into the policies, practices, and culture of Canisius College with a minimum of confusion and angst and a maximum of clarity and gemütlichkeit.
New teachers during their first semester on campus are paired with experienced faculty mentors drawn from disciplines other than those of the mentees. This is done expressly to build interdisciplinary linkages and to create personal ties that transcend departmental boundaries. The mentors are selected by the CTE in consultation with the various academic deans of the college. They are chosen for their teaching skills, extensive knowledge of the college, personal excellence, and their willingness to share their time and wisdom with others.
The partners are expected to meet, on the average, once every two weeks to discuss classroom issues, professional concerns or simply to share a cup of coffee. The CTE Director also meets with new faculty individually and as a group during their first term of service to track progress, ascertain needs, answer questions, and provide whatever guidance and assistance might be required or sought.
All new faculty participants are surveyed in writing at the end of the experience. For the purpose of improving and enriching the mentoring process, the CTE Director and Board of Advisors review the evaluations and comments.