MENTORING MATTERS

Program Description

Mentoring Matters is a community learning opportunity structured through workshops and sessions that emphasize the importance of mentorship to professional, personal, and academic success for mentors and mentees at all stages of their careers. The series prepares participants to engage in and grow meaningful and productive mentoring relationships through targeted skill development, reflection, and implementation of strategies for success.

All faculty, staff, and students interested in topics and discussions centered on mentoring are invited to participate. Mentors will become familiar with tools and strategies to develop and improve their mentorship skills and help their mentees achieve their goals. Mentees will learn to recognize effective mentorship strategies and “mentor up” to proactively manage and navigate their mentoring relationships.

Workshops and series focus on three main competencies (C) essential to productive mentoring relationships.

C1: Leadership & Organization

Goal Setting
Aligning Expectations
Resource Mapping

C2: Communication

Effective Conversation
Active Listening
Providing Feedback

C3: Relationship-Building

Cultural Awareness
Equity & Inclusion
Motivation & Trust

To earn the Mentoring Matters micro-credential and badge, hosted on Accredible, participants will:

Attend at least three (3) Mentoring Matters workshops/sessions during the 2025-26 AY.
Participate in at least one (1) synchronous, facilitated Mentoring Matters community discussion.
Submit a structured reflection essay (max 250 words) describing your mentoring practice, plans to implement high-impact mentoring practices in the coming semester, and the impact of such practices on your teaching.

The series emphasizes the importance of mentorship to professional, personal, and academic success for mentors and mentees at all stages of their careers. The series prepares participants to engage in and grow meaningful and productive mentoring relationships through targeted skill development, reflection, and implementation of strategies for success. Participants have the opportunity to earn the Mentoring Matters micro-credential and badge.

If you are interested in earning the badge, please join our Canvas site and click "Join This Course" in the upper-righthand corner. (If you are already a member of the site, you will not see this button.)

Mentoring Matters Spring 2026 Workshops

Crucial Conversations

Friday, February 6, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

The toughest conversations are often the most important ones — those moments when the outcome truly matters, opinions differ, and emotions are running high. Whether in the workplace or in our personal lives, these conversations can shape relationships, trust, and long-term results.

This interactive workshop is designed to help participants slow down, prepare intentionally, and approach difficult conversations with confidence and clarity. Participants will learn practical strategies to navigate conflict, express their perspectives effectively, and listen with purpose, even under pressure. The program emphasizes how to address sensitive issues directly while preserving respect, trust, and collaboration.

Through guided discussion, real-life scenarios, and actionable tools, participants will gain skills to manage emotional reactions, uncover underlying interests, and steer conversations toward productive outcomes. By the end of the workshop, attendees will be better equipped to resolve issues constructively, reduce misunderstandings, and strengthen relationships, turning challenging conversations into opportunities for growth and connection.

This session is offered remotely via Zoom.

Mentoring Matters Magna Self-Guided Workshops

In addition to the offerings above, you can complete these self-guided workshops at any time and upload your certificate to Canvas to work towards your badge.

Magna 20-Minute Mentors: How Can I Be an Effective Mentor? Self-Guided Online Course

Learn the essential principles you need to know about mentoring Junior Faculty in this Magna Publications online course: How Can I Be an Effective Mentor?

You’re an expert in your field of study, and you can skillfully navigate the culture of your campus. Yet you may not have experience with mentoring junior faculty beyond lending some friendly advice upon occasion. Balancing theory and practice, this fast and focused Magna 20 Minute Mentor session will show you how you can be an effective advisor and coach without detracting from your other responsibilities. You’ll learn the principles of mentoring new faculty from their first semester teaching through the tenure process. Guiding your mentee toward self-sufficiency and success is the goal!

After participating in this program, you’ll be able to do the following:

Describe the basic principles of effective mentoring and recognize how these principles can be applied
Design and operate a productive mentoring relationship
Support a mentee through the five stages of development
Assemble additional resources as you manage new mentoring situations

To earn the Mentoring Matters micro-credential and badge, upon completion of this course, please create your Certificate and upload to our Canvas site.

Rutgers-Newark Magna Login/Registration Instructions

Magna 20-Minute Mentors: How Can I Effectively Mentor Students?
Self-Guided Online Course

Learn some essential principles of mentoring students in How Can I Effectively Mentor Students? Designed for faculty and instructors, the course aims to increase your potential to mentor every time you have contact with students. Topics include opportunities and ways to engage with students through casual interactions, and how to help students learn and practice life skills through teaching.

To earn the Mentoring Matters micro-credential and badge, upon completion of this course, please create your Certificate and upload to our Canvas site.

Rutgers-Newark Magna Login/Registration Instructions