{"id":1588,"date":"2026-09-28T09:23:46","date_gmt":"2026-09-28T13:23:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/engr.ncsu.edu\/faculty-development\/?page_id=1588"},"modified":"2026-09-28T09:49:50","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T13:49:50","slug":"engineering-mentoring-network","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/engr.ncsu.edu\/faculty-development\/engineering-mentoring-network\/","title":{"rendered":"Engineering Mentoring Network"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sailing through Mentorship<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You want students who can navigate open waters that move  projects forward, making sound decisions, and coming to you with a clear heading rather than asking, <em>&#8220;What should I do next?&#8221;<\/em> Mentoring helps them set that course, but taking the helm takes time and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong>Engineering Mentoring Network<\/strong> gives faculty a collaborative harbor to share what works, address common headwinds, and test small, high-impact adjustments in their mentoring practice. Each session offers engineering\/STEM-specific examples, practical navigational tools, and dedicated time to compare approaches with colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who should participate?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Faculty who mentor undergraduate and graduate researchers, teaching assistants, graduate assistants, and postdocs. <strong>All NC State faculty are welcome<\/strong>, with examples and tools focused on engineering and other STEM settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What to expect<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 2026-2027 pilot includes a kickoff and four lunch and learns organized around <strong>Relationships, Development, Autonomy, and Purpose<\/strong>. Participants will explore practices such as clarifying responsibilities, giving constructive feedback, and helping students take greater ownership of their work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As AI rapidly changes the landscape of engineering practice, students still need opportunities to explain their reasoning, learn from constructive feedback, and collaborate effectively as part of a crew. We\u2019ll explore how mentoring conversations, engineering journals, and e-portfolios can help students chart their progress, sharpen their judgment, and demonstrate these essential skills as they prepare for research, teaching, or industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each lunch and learn brings together a short talk from a guest faculty speaker, peer discussion to tackle common headwinds, selected literature and tools, and dedicated time to adapt one practice to keep your own mentoring on course to be used immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"539\" src=\"https:\/\/engr.ncsu.edu\/faculty-development\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/414\/2026\/09\/EMN.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1596\" srcset=\"https:\/\/engr.ncsu.edu\/faculty-development\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/414\/2026\/09\/EMN.png 1024w, https:\/\/engr.ncsu.edu\/faculty-development\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/414\/2026\/09\/EMN-300x158.png 300w, https:\/\/engr.ncsu.edu\/faculty-development\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/414\/2026\/09\/EMN-768x404.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Kickoff: Mentoring: Critical Now More Than Ever<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Wednesday, September 30, 2026 | 12:00\u20131:00 p.m.<\/strong><br><strong>Fitts-Woolard Hall, Room 3301<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dr. Joel Ducoste will share his perspective on what mentors and students can learn from one another and how curiosity, constructive feedback, and judgment support students\u2019 growth. We\u2019ll introduce the Network\u2019s four principles and hear what participants would like to explore during the pilot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/app.smartsheet.com\/b\/form\/01a0586a85d47f2baddab28d341ceb44\"><strong>Register for the kickoff<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lunch will be provided. Please <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/spreadsheets\/d\/1JoFVDMKIu0_2geC3GOlfZYYtQEJJ_qYwbm9Fn78dezU\/edit?gid=237961538#gid=237961538\">submit your Neomonde lunch order<\/a>, including any allergies or dietary needs, by <strong>Tuesday, September 29, at 5:00 p.m.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">EMN Schedule<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All sessions meet from <strong>12:00-1:00 p.m. in Fitts-Woolard Hall, Room 3301<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Relationships | <em>Reading the Environment <\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">November 16, 2026<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Establish a mentoring compact to clarify expectations, communication channels, and check-in habits<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Competencies addressed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Communicating effectively<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Aligning expectations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Attending to well-being and belonging<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Development | <em>Navigating Resistance<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">February 5, 2027<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Assess what students know, use feedback and reflection to support learning, and help students set and review goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Competencies addressed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Assessing understanding<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Providing constructive feedback and prompting reflection<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Setting and reviewing goals<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Autonomy | <em>Delivering Lift, Not Drag<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">March 12, 2027<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Adjust support so students take increasing responsibility for their thinking, decisions, and work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Competencies addressed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Fostering independence<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Developing student decision-making<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Transferring responsibility to students<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Purpose | <em>Shared Quest &amp; Character<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">April 2, 2027<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Help students connect their experiences to career possibilities, professional communities, and their developing identities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Competencies addressed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Promoting professional development<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Discussing professional identity<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Connecting students to career pathways and networks<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Putting mentoring into practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Participants leave each session with one practice or tool to try with a student and discuss at the next meeting. The pilot curriculum draws on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalacademies.org\/read\/25568\">National Academies\u2019 <em>Science of Effective Mentorship in STEMM<\/em><\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/cimer.wcer.wisc.edu\/mentor-mentee-support-resources\/\">CIMER curriculum<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/engr.ncsu.edu\/faculty-development\/faculty-resources\/mentoring-competency-assessment-mca-framework\/\">the Mentoring Competency Assessment<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/peer.asee.org\/wip-mapping-mentorship-assessing-and-advancing-engineering-faculty-mentoring-competencies\">NC State\u2019s earlier EngEx Mentor Network<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Questions?<\/strong> Contact <a href=\"mailto:megan_morin@ncsu.edu\">Megan Morin<\/a> in the Engineering Office of Faculty Development and Success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sailing through Mentorship You want students who can navigate open waters that move projects forward, making sound decisions, and coming to you with a clear heading rather than asking, &#8220;What should I do next?&#8221; Mentoring helps them set that course, but taking the helm takes time and practice. The Engineering Mentoring Network gives faculty a&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27809,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"ncst_custom_author":"","ncst_show_custom_author":false,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/default-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"pageIntro\":\"Join NC State faculty to share tools, address common challenges, and improve student autonomy through four core principles.\"}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","ncst_content_audit_display":false,"ncst_backToTopFlag":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1588","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/engr.ncsu.edu\/faculty-development\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1588","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/engr.ncsu.edu\/faculty-development\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/engr.ncsu.edu\/faculty-development\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engr.ncsu.edu\/faculty-development\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/27809"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engr.ncsu.edu\/faculty-development\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1588"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/engr.ncsu.edu\/faculty-development\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1588\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1600,"href":"https:\/\/engr.ncsu.edu\/faculty-development\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1588\/revisions\/1600"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/engr.ncsu.edu\/faculty-development\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1588"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}