[Plsfaculty] Faculty Mentor Program

[Tanya Quist]

Dear Colleagues,

As discussed in the last faculty meeting, we are looking at ways to increase
undergraduate enrollment and improve the academic experience for these
students. We have made significant gains recently: namely, enrollment has
exceeded the 7 year plateau and more than 35 of our current 58 students
declaring Plant Science as their major within the past 12 months. However,
as Dr. Larkin's pointed out, the RCM funding model requires continued
program growth and this rate of growth is possible with support from the
school's primary asset - the faculty. To this end, he has proposed the
development of a Faculty-Mentor Program to facilitate greater interaction
between undergraduates and faculty in the Plant Sciences. This note is to
follow up with that discussion.
 
The goals of the program are to:
1.       Enhance existing efforts directed at increasing student enrollment
through recruiting and retention.
2.       Improve student learning, engagement in the campus community, and
enhance professional preparation. 
 
The program requires:
1.       Current students will be matched and assigned to faculty by request
(if you currently work with PLS undergraduates) or by me, based on my
knowledge of student and faculty interests. 

2.       Faculty will arrange with their assigned students to meet twice per
semester to discuss questions relating to the students' professional
development in their chosen career track.

3.        I will provide a packet of resources so that faculty mentors will
be able to refer students to specialists as needed for assistance beyond the
scope of the faculty-mentor program goals. Many additional resources will
allow faculty to defer to tutors, academic advisors, learning specialists,
disability services, counseling etc. and focus solely on mentoring
activities which promote student professional development and professional
engagement. 

4.       Faculty will record the frequency of student visits as a metric to
assess the program's impact.

5.       Students' views on the program will be assessed through the
graduation exit survey.

 
What you can do now:
Current students hearing of this proposed program are eager to accept
assignments. If you are able to accept a student mentoring assignment please
state your interest in participating in this program by replying to me. If
you have a preference or limit to the number of students you are willing to
mentor (2 is ideal), or if you are already working with a PLS undergraduate
student please let me know about this as well. I will follow up shortly with
assignments and appropriate resources you might find useful.
 
 

 

 

Tanya M. Quist

Assistant Professor & Academic Advisor

319 Forbes Bldg. School of Plant Sciences

University of Arizona Tucson AZ 85721

Plant Sciences Office: (520) 621-1582

 

Director, University of Arizona Campus Arboretum

101 Herring Hall University of Arizona Tucson AZ 85721

Arboretum Office: (520) 621-7074

Website:  <http://arboretum.arizona.edu/> http//:arboretum.arizona.edu

Email:  <mailto:infoarboretum at ag.arizona.edu> infoarboretum at ag.arizona.edu

 

P Please consider the environment before printing this email

 

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