I developed this reference document for students drafting mentoring and advisement contracts with advisers, PI's, committee chairs, and mentors. Here are suggested points of agreement you should feel empowered to discuss with your adviser or mentor. There are also suggested ways of approaching sensitive subjects with advisers and establishing rules that protect the mentee in a power imbalance. This list can also be helpful for advisers in establishing fair, respectful, two-way guidelines that protect both parties and make clear responsibilities and expectations. I have also included a blank mentorship plan that you can use in conjunction with the reference document.


What is a mentoring plan?
A mentoring plan is a way to clarify and formalize a relationship between a mentor and mentee. It is a reference document where mentor and mentee agree on their mutual commitments during the period they work together. A mentoring agreement can enrich the mentor-mentee relationship by providing clear expectations, honest communication, goals and deadlines, and professional boundaries. It gives both (though often the least empowered person especially -commonly the student) a widely accepted practice to point to in showing that their agreements and expectations are not unreasonable or unusual and they should expect certain standards and respect.
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