The DoCS mentoring program seeks to support learning partnerships. The goal of the program is to promote a culture of mentorship, professional development, and collaboration among staff members.
In the program, a mentee identifies learning and/or career goals, and the mentor supports the clarification and reaching of these goals through modeling, active listening, encouraging, appreciating, showing humility and compassion, and building trust. Both the mentor and mentee are likely to obtain a better understanding of the workplace and the world through the learning partnership. What mentors and mentees seek and obtain out of the program can vary. Mentees stand to develop distinctive images of practices and approaches to their profession, gaining knowledge and insight in areas of interest. Through providing support and resources, mentors gain the satisfaction of helping others to grow and be successful, and develop improved mentoring and leadership skills. Both partners may expand their professional networks, within and outside of Rutgers DoCS.
The entire program is free and open to all DoCS staff. You can apply here any time. Program participation includes professional development (PD) centering on being an effective mentor and/or mentee via the Canvas Course Website, as well as monthly events and the offerings of the DoCS DEIA program. Meeting with one’s partner at least once per month is strongly encouraged; however, mentoring pairs negotiate the terms of the mentoring arrangement, culminating in a learning partnership contract.
After successfully completing the program including at least 15 hours of combined PD, you will earn the DoCS Mentoring Program badge!
The Program Director administrates the DoCS Mentoring Program in collaboration with a Coordinating Committee to develop professional development and program topics, review program applications, match pairs, monitor the mentoring process, evaluate the program, and provide suggestions for improving the program.
David Shernoff, Ph.D., Director, Center for Mathematics, Science, and Computer Education
For questions or queries, please email david.shernoff@rutgers.edu.
- Thursday, Dec 14th, 10:55 – noon | Program Orientation and Getting to Know the Participants
- Wednesday, Jan 25, 11:30am-2pm | Meet and Greet and Q&A Session (optional session); noon - 1 pm is face to face at the LLC Pot Luck, with the rest of the time (both before and after) optional Zoom or Dave's LLC office
- Wednesday, Feb 28th, 11:30am-1pm | Goal Setting with Kathleen Cashman-Walter
- Wednesday, March 27th, 11:30am - 1pm | Being an Effective Mentor and Mentee with David Shernoff
- Wednesday, Apr 24th, noon - 1:30 pm | Networking Luncheon @ Rutgers Club
- Wednesday, May 22nd, 11:30am-1pm | Difficult Conversations with Dana Bernstein
- Wednesday, September 1, 4:30 - 6:30 | Networking and Refreshments, Stage House Tavern, Somerset
- Thursday, October 10, Fall DoCS Day: Functional Fitness for All with Erin Comollo, Department of Family & Community Health Sciences.
- Thursday, November 21, 11:45 - 1:15: Pizza and Feedback Wrap up, LLC 308 (3rd floor conference room)
- Thursday, December 12, Winter DoCS Day (time TBA): Breakout Session: Year 2 DoCS Mentoring Program Information Session
- Thursday, December 12, Winter DoCS Day (time TBA): Wellness Self-Care Planning for Good Mental Health; Margaret (Peggy) Swarbrick; Director of new Scarlet Well Initiative
"Participating as a mentee in the DoCS Mentoring Program was a very unique and enriching experience for me. I gained invaluable insights from my mentor, who not only shared her expertise but also provided me with new perspectives. It was great to have a sounding board and have time to reflect on a variety of topics with her from a different point of view. This opportunity deepened my understanding of our organization while allowing me to build a meaningful connection with someone I would not ordinarily interact with on a day-to-day basis. I enjoyed the discussions we had and the guidance I received, which has inspired me to pursue my goals with renewed confidence. Overall, it was a fantastic experience that I will carry with me in my professional journey."
"I am thankful for having had the opportunity to meet regularly with my mentor...In our busy workdays, we are often so caught up with our own responsibilities and working in our areas independently, that unfortunately we do not make time to share our experiences, ideas, and perspectives in a formal yet unstructured way that powerfully promotes interprofessional thinking and planning. The DoCS Mentoring Program offers a learning environment that is unique, one that takes its participants out of their standard workplace and personal processes and places them into vibrant conversations that promote personal reflection, critical observation, guided imagination and supportive idea generation."
"The program was great...We chose to keep the conversations dynamic but overall focused on goals."
"Through mentoring relationships, we have been able to foster deeper connections, exchange valuable insights, and support each other's development in new and exciting ways. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and it’s clear that these interactions are helping us all grow stronger in our roles and as a team."
“My experience was great. My mentor is awesome.”
“The program came at just the right time for me at this point of my career: shifting to a formal leadership role, with new responsibilities etc. To have a mentor for this has been invaluable. I could not stress enough how great this was.”
"I think the beautiful part of what I experienced was the people that I've talked with were self-aware, and wanted to be more self-aware. And when you're dealing with that at the beginning, everything is about self-awareness."